University of Toronto
UTSC Harmful Algae Analytical Unit
The UTSC Harmful Algae Analytical Unit generates baseline and time-sensitive data to understand the drivers influencing phytoplankton dynamics (community composition, ecology, and physiology), with an emphasis on examining harmful algal blooms. In addition, it provides open-access data obtained from a combination of field and laboratory-based techniques to investigate aquatic microbial communities and contains modern analytical equipment for algal culturing, algal class analyses (e.g., PhycoLabAnalyser, fluoroprobe and PHYTO-PAM), phytoplankton identification and enumeration (e.g., high-resolution microscopy, FlowCam), and toxin analyses.
Lab Equipment & Services
CytoFLEX Flow Cytometer (Beckman Coulter)Cell analysis system used for the qualitative and quantitative measurement of biological and physical properties of cells and other particles. Application flexibility, including an optional 96-well Plate Loader, 13 bandpass filters, and two lasers (Blue and Red). |
UTHAAL-ML-1 |
PhytoCyt Flow Cytometer (Turner Designs) PortableCell analysis system used for many applications (e.g., cell counting, viability assays, physiological characterization, etc.). The optical filters and lasers have been optimized to detect the endogenous fluorophores common to phytoplankton, including phycoerythrin, chlorophyll and phycocyanins. One of the detectors has been optimized for green fluorescence detection, which allows labelling with exogenous reagents. |
UTHAAL-ML-2UTHAAL-ML-3 |
IX73 Inverted LED Fluorescence Microscope (Olympus)Fluorescence microscopy is a major tool used to monitor cell physiology and aid in cell identification. The system has imaging capabilities for standard imaging tasks. |
UTHAAL-ML-4 |
BX 42Fl Light Microscopy (Olympus)Suitable for various applications and has imaging capabilities for standard imaging tasks. |
UTHAAL-ML-5 |
ECLIPSE Ts2 Inverted Microscopes (Nikon)Suitable for various applications and has imaging capabilities for standard imaging tasks. |
UTHAAL-ML-6 |
Multiskan™ FC Microplate Photometer (Thermo Scientific) (340–850 nm)Provides fast and accurate measurements for 96-well plates. The wavelength range of 340– 850 nm and is used for a wide variety of applications such as ELISA immunoassays, protein quantification, endotoxin, cytotoxicity and proliferation assays, enzyme assays and growth curves. |
UTHAAL-ML-7 |
Cary 300 UV-Visible SpectrophotometerThe wavelength range of 190–900 nm and is used for a wide variety of applications (wavelength accuracy ± 0.2 nm). |
UTHAAL-ML-8 |
Cary Eclipse is a Fluorescence SpectrophotometerFlexible fluorescence spectrometer with multiple data collection modes, including fluorescence, phosphorescence, chemiluminescence, bioluminescence, and time-resolved phosphorescence. Operational emission: 200 - 900 nm Operational excitation: 200 - 900 nm |
UTHAAL-ML-9 |
Innova® S44i - Stackable Incubator Shaker (Three units available)Temperature-controlled (refrigerated) shaker allowing the use of high-volume flasks. Photosynthetic LED light bank provides the ability to evenly light the entire platform across a wide intensity range. |
UTHAAL-ML-10UTHAAL-ML-11 |
Panasonic Growth Incubators (Two units available)Temperature-controlled (refrigerated) unit allowing the use of high-volume flasks. Ability to control light intensity and light cycles. |
UTHAAL-ML-12UTHAAL-ML-13 |
Milli-Q® Benchtop Lab Water Purification SystemsWater purification system providing ultrapure water for laboratory needs (e.g., buffers and bacterial media preparation). |
UTHAAL-ML-14 |
Multi-Cultivator MC 1000-ODSmall-scale cultivation device developed for the cultivation of multiple samples. The instrument is primarily intended for the synchronous growth of algae, bacteria or cyanobacteria under defined conditions with a wide range of applications (i.e. toxicological and eco-toxicological testing, optimization of cultivation conditions, phenotypization of various strains). |
UTHAAL-ML-15UTHAAL-ML-16 |
Purifier Logic+ Class II, Type A2 Biosafety CabinetsWorkstation provides personnel, product, and environmental protection from hazardous particulates such as agents that require Biosafety Level 1 or 2. |
UTHAAL-ML-17 |
Deployable Systems
AlgaeTorch (bbe Moldaenke) PortableHandheld operational unit used for the quantification of cyanobacteria and total chlorophyll. |
UTHAAL-DS-1UTHAAL-DS-2 |
PhycoLabAnalyser (bbe Moldaenke) PortableQuick, simple chlorophyll measurement with algal class differentiation. It also provides phycocyanin measurements – an indicator for cyanotoxins as well as flavours and odorous substances. |
UTHAAL-DS-3UTHAAL-DS-4 |
FluoroProbe III (bbe Moldaenke) PortableUsed for creating depth profiles of different phycological divisions. Individual profiles during the measurements are taken for green algae, blue-green algae/cyanobacteria, diatoms/dinoflagellates and cryptophytes (others can be added, e.g. Planktothrix rubescens). |
UTHAAL-DS-5UTHAAL-DS-6 |
PHYTO-PAM-II (Walz) PortableFacilitate measurements of mixed algae populations for composition analysis and differences in the photosynthetic performance of up to four algae groups within one sample. |
UTHAAL-DS-7UTHAAL-DS-8 |
FlowCam Cyano (Fluid Imaging Technologies) PortableFor detecting and verifying cyanobacteria presence and biovolume calculations. The system automatically identifies cyanobacteria from other algae using excitation wavelengths, phycocyanin fluorescence measurement, and image recognition software. |
UTHAAL-DS-9UTHAAL-DS-10 |
ThermoSafe 450 Dry Ice Storage Chest; 85 lb Pellet CapacityChests contain extra-thick foam plastic insulation core. It takes six days for 85 lb of dry ice to sublimate to 5 lb. |
UTHAAL-DS-11UTHAAL-DS-12 |
Universal Percussion Corer/ Extruding DeviceUsed for paleoecological analyses. Instruments can be modified for lake or wetland coring. |
UTHAAL-DS-13UTHAAL-DS-14 |
Filter Holder Vacuum Manifolds (three positions) + Vacuum pressure pump (MilliporeSigma)Provides vacuum support for simultaneous filtration. |
UTHAAL-DS-15UTHAAL-DS-16 |
(16’) GRIZZLY® 1648 SCw/ Mercury® FourStroke 20 ELPT FourStroke Boat, Motor, & TrailerFor accessing lakes |
UTHAAL-DS-17UTHAAL-DS-18 |
(14’) Scamper Alumnimum boats/ Mercury® FourStroke 20 ELPT FourStroke Boat, Motor, & TrailerFor accessing lakes |
UTHAAL-DS-19UTHAAL-DS-20 |

