Freshwater Algae Training Courses

The aim of this normally 3-day course is to provide training in identification and ecology of freshwater blue-green algae. It is likely, but not essential, that many participants will already have attended an introductory course on algal identification and treat this course as a refresher and a chance to get more detailed knowledge of this important group. The focus is on naming organisms, but quantifying samples, the use of blue-greens for monitoring nutrients and problems such as nuisance blooms will also be covered.

Prof. Brian Whitton and Dr Alan Donaldson give the majority of the lectures.
They will also demonstrate the electronic key to blue-green algae based on Lucid software.

Programme

The course combines lectures, tutorials and practicals. The emphasis of the practical work is to show how three new aids make it much easier to identify algae, especially when are all three are used together. The aids are The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles, the CD of images included with this Flora, and the latest version of the interactive identification CD for Blue-Green Algae. The last uses the latest Lucid software from the University of Queensland. A comprehensive collection of floras, ecological and monitoring literature will be on show.

The detailed programme of lectures and practicals is available on request.