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Assessing phytoplankton using a two-rank database based on excitation-emission fluorescence spectra
Fang Zhang1, Jiangfeng He, Rongguo Su
1SOA Key Laboratory for Polar Science, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai 200136, PR China. zhangfang@pric.gov.cn
Applied Spectroscopy
|January 8, 2011
Summary
This study demonstrates a novel fluorimetric technique using a two-rank reference spectra database to accurately identify phytoplankton at genus and division levels. The method shows high correct identification rates for single species and laboratory mixtures, aiding in marine ecosystem monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Spectroscopy
- Phytoplankton Ecology
Background:
- Accurate identification of phytoplankton is crucial for understanding marine ecosystems and harmful algal blooms.
- Traditional methods for phytoplankton identification can be time-consuming and require specialized expertise.
- Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy offers a rapid, non-invasive approach for analyzing phytoplankton.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the feasibility of a two-rank reference spectra database for identifying dominant phytoplankton groups using in vivo fluorescence EEMs.
- To develop and validate a fluorimetric technique for classifying phytoplankton at genus and division levels.
- To assess the accuracy of this technique in identifying phytoplankton in laboratory mixtures and natural seawater samples.
Main Methods:
- Extraction of fluorescent characteristics from EEMs using Daubechies-7 wavelet analysis.
- Selection of optimal characteristic spectra of scale vectors (SOCS) and time-series vectors (TOCS).
- Classification of phytoplankton genera using Fisher linear discriminant analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis to build reference databases.
- Application of non-negative least squares for phytoplankton assessment and correct identification rate (CIR) calculation.
Main Results:
- High correct identification rates (CIRs) for single-species samples: 88.8-100% at the genus level and 98.8-100% at the division level.
- Successful identification of dominant species in laboratory mixtures with CIRs of 85.6% (genus) and 96.1% (division).
- Qualitative identification of key bloom-forming species in natural seawater samples at the genus level, with other dominant species identified at the division level.
Conclusions:
- The developed two-rank reference spectra database fluorimetric technique is effective for identifying dominant phytoplankton groups.
- The method demonstrates high accuracy for genus and division-level identification in controlled and natural environments.
- Further research is recommended to improve quantitative identification in natural water samples, exploring new measurement and calculation methods.
