The negative environmental public health impacts from harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been noted recently in association with pet deaths, fish kills, and disease outbreaks in marine birds and mammals. Mounting evidence indicates global climate changes support increased frequency and geographic extent of HABs. The Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN) is a NOAA research-based program utilizing volunteers to monitor phytoplankton species composition and environmental conditions. Volunteers are trained to identify general classes of phytoplantkon, including 14 known toxin producing species and 5 non-toxic species important for the aquaculture industry.
Since 2001, the network area includes coastal Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific waters. In 2014, NOAA and EPA collaborated to expand this citizen science program into freshwater habitats. Volunteers participate in hands-on research by collecting water samples, identifying species of interest, and entering data on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Volunteers monitoring these sites represent public and private schools, colleges and universities, Native American tribes, state and national parks, aquariums, civic groups, shellfish growers and other non-governmental organizations.
The PMN was able to grow into a national monitoring program by use of various web-based tools such as an interactive web site and a geographic information system tool for data visualization and searchable database. NOAA scientists using internet teleconference capabilities and next generation digital microscopes give volunteer training sessions and workshops. This presentation will outline the use of these technologies and highlight the use of volunteer data in aquaculture settings.