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Today is the last day of the project...but will be continued til 2023

 Today is the last day for the citizen science project; however, I am obligated for another year with the Phytoplankton monitoring network.  I will continue to post and update the blog as it is a great reference for us all.  I have enjoyed this project and look forward to helping my community and the South Carolina coast monitor for microscopic algae density.

It has given me such great insight into the microscopic world.  I absolutely love it and looking into pursuing my doctorate in aquatic ecology.  Please stay tuned as I will upload more data, pics, and videos to the blog.

What do we do with the data?

 The volunteer scientists and citizen scientists come together and input their data into a database.  The data is then analyzed to determine if an alert needs to be sent out to the public about not swimming or staying away from the area.  The "Red Tides" can be very restrictive in the lungs for individuals who suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, asthma, emphysema, and other chronic illness in the lungs. 

The information and data given can help figure out if current policies on agriculture or farming need to be revisited or revised.  The sewage and runoffs from farms and agricultural land are creating a eutrophication process in the waterways.  Phytoplankton feed off the elements and toxins in the contaminated runoffs; therefore, creating an environment for them to reproduce quickly.

Photo: https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-and-solutions-to-eutrophication.php

Stricter policies and laws need to be in place due to the increase in eutrophication. Herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides need to be altered so that they are not harmful to the environment. Rachel Carson, an author and marine biologist who wrote the Silent Spring, talked about these harmful chemicals in her book.  She started the environmental movement back in the 1950s and 1960s.

My findings today

 It is amazing to see such beauty in a microscopic world. 

Working on my data

 Data retrieved today: 24C water temp, brackish water.  Partly cloudy skies with a warm temp of 76F.  Salinity at 10.

Supplies have arrived!

 I received my supplies today!  I am so excited...here is to a full year of collecting phytoplankton and recording data for NOAA.

Data from collection of samples from January-April 2022

Due to the delay of equipment from NOAA and Congress passing the funding for the equipment, I have been delayed in the collection of samples.  However, the PMN team is still working and collecting samples and using previous equipment.  The data below is from various volunteers across the state of South Carolina monitoring levels of phytoplankton and their density.  The data spreadsheet is from January 2022-April 2022.

Jennifer, my contact at NOAA, emailed me today and said my equipment is shipping today!  I should get the equipment this week.  I will start my data collection this week for the next year.  I am so excited to join this team, and my plan is to continue to volunteer with PMN for many years to come.

Photo: https://ha
kaimagazine.com/news/why-are-there-so-many-kinds-of-phytoplankton/

The location closest to mine is North and South Pawleys Island, SC.