Overview

The abundance or number of counting units of individual phytoplankton taxa does not necessarily reflect the real ratio of single taxa to the complete biomass of a phytoplankton community. Few big cells/counting units can contribute far more biomass to the system than many small ones. Hence, abundance data alone is often not an ideal measurement of population size. Biomass estimations give very important information for ecological studies, classification schemes and ecosystem modelling. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the biomass of phytoplankton taxa, particularly because phytoplankton delivers energy in the form of carbon, to other trophic levels of food webs. It is not possible to directly analyse the carbon content on the taxonomic level in natural phytoplankton samples, therefore the biovolume of the phytoplankton taxa is a suitable measure to determine the biomass of an ecosystem according to the taxonomic composition. Neither particle size analysis using laser analysis, nor flow cytometry, nor Coulter Counters, nor chemical analyses of chlorophyll-a concentration as well as total carbon allow statements on the taxon level. An estimation of the carbon content is possible using conversion factors. Further, the biovolume is a quantitative basis for assessing hazards from those algae and cyanobacteria, which (can) contain noxious or toxic metabolites, and is used in combination with cell numbers or chlorophyll-a concentration within WHO guidelines and national regulations for risk assessments. Up to now, various guidelines for estimating the biovolume of microalgae have been used in different national and international monitoring programs (for example [1], [2], [3], [4]). The main objective of this document is the standardization of the procedure for determining the phytoplankton biovolume in order to achieve comparability of data. For this reason, the estimation of the biovolume in phytoplankton samples in sedimentation chambers (according to Utermöhl) using an inverted microscope will be described in detail. This standard is also applicable for image analysis of pictures derived from microscope and flow cytometry cameras. The use of a standard catalogue containing basic and some composed geometrical shapes is recommended. Of course, such a standard list will not reflect the variety of all naturally existing shapes and will not match the exact biovolume values of each taxon. It will always be a compromise between accuracy and efficiency. However, the usage of agreed geometrical shapes and the application of the relevant formulae will improve the comparability of phytoplankton data and will be an important step forward for the implementation of quality assurance measures in phytoplankton analysis. This European Standard specifies a procedure for the estimation of biovolume of marine and freshwater phytoplankton taxa using inverted microscopy (Utermöhl technique according to EN 15204), in consideration of some heterotrophic protists (< 100 μm) that are not considered in routine zooplankton analysis and benthic microalgae, which can be found in pelagic water samples. This European Standard describes the necessary methods for measuring cell dimensions and for the calculation of cell or counting unit volumes to estimate the biovolume in phytoplankton samples. This shall be done using harmonized assignments of geometrical shapes to avoid errors. This document (EN 16695:2015) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 230 "Water analysis", the secretariat of which is held by DIN (Germany). The responsible German body is Subcommittee 119-01-03-05-06 AK "Biologisch-ökologische Gewässeruntersuchung" ("Biological-ecological water examination") of Working Committee NA 119-01-03 AA "Wasseruntersuchung" ("Water examination") at DIN Standards Committee Water Practice (NAW).

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 119-01-03-05-06 AK - Biological-ecological water examination  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 230 - Water analysis