Abstract: The Algacount algae counter is used for counting Microcystis cells, greatly reducing the time and manpower required for counting and improving counting efficiency. Counting Microcystis is a difficult task in algae monitoring experiments. This article uses Xunshu

Keywords: Microcystis aeruginosa, algae cells, Microcystis counting, algae counter

Algae monitoring is a long-term and important task. Experimental personnel need to make judgments and warnings on whether various water systems such as rivers, lakes, and seas are experiencing algal blooms or red tides, identify algal species in the water, count the number of algal cells, and determine dominant species in different seasons and times. When counting algal cells, it is common to encounter algae such as Microcystis, which have an external sheath structure and multiple densely arranged cells inside. By observing directly with the naked eye under a microscope, most people cannot help but exclaim how difficult it is and sigh at the sight of algae. Although it is possible to use an ultrasonic cell disruptor to break up algae cells for counting, after the cells are broken up, most of them still gather together, making direct counting still difficult.

This article introduces a new cell counting method that uses the fast counting Algacount algae counter to count Microcystis cells.

1 Materials and Methods

1.1 Sample Preparation

Microcystis water samples are concentrated before counting.

1.2 Main instruments and reagents

Algacount algae counter

Misonix S-4000 ultrasonic cell disruptor from the United States

1.3 Experimental Methods

Take 30ml of Microcystis aeruginosa water sample and place it in a 50ml glass beaker. sonicate the sample for 10 minutes and make 5 parallel samples. Use Algacount algae counter to continuously capture 100 views of the sample, and use Algacount algae assisted identification and analysis software to count the number of Microcystis cells in each view.

2 Results

The results of counting the samples are as follows:

Figure 1 Microcystis before and after treatment with Algacount algae assisted identification and analysis software (the red filled area on the right is the counting area)

3 Conclusion

Using the Algacount algae counter to count Microcystis cells resulted in a relatively small relative error of around 10%. Compared with the direct counting method under the microscope, it is more convenient and efficient, improving the counting efficiency of encapsulated algae such as Microcystis.