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Experimental setup for biodiversity study using Planktoscope

Wang, Yatong LU (2025) In TVVR 4000 VVRL01 20251
Division of Water Resources Engineering
Abstract
Open-source microscopes like the PlanktoScope have recently gained attention as affordable tools for studying plankton diversity. Compared to commercial systems, they are low-cost, modular, and suitable for both scientific research and citizen science projects. In this study, we assembled and tested the PlanktoScope v.2 system to evaluate its performance in identifying and quantifying freshwater algae. We used laboratory-cultured mixed algae as samples to assess its imaging quality, resolution, and compatibility with online classification platforms such as EcoTaxa. Results show that while the system cannot replace traditional methods in precision, it can provide usable data for observing general algal group composition. We also explored... (More)
Open-source microscopes like the PlanktoScope have recently gained attention as affordable tools for studying plankton diversity. Compared to commercial systems, they are low-cost, modular, and suitable for both scientific research and citizen science projects. In this study, we assembled and tested the PlanktoScope v.2 system to evaluate its performance in identifying and quantifying freshwater algae. We used laboratory-cultured mixed algae as samples to assess its imaging quality, resolution, and compatibility with online classification platforms such as EcoTaxa. Results show that while the system cannot replace traditional methods in precision, it can provide usable data for observing general algal group composition. We also explored its potential for future applications in local lake monitoring and proposed a protocol for its use. This work serves as a feasibility study for using low-cost, open-source imaging microscopes in routine plankton biodiversity monitoring. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Wang, Yatong LU
supervisor
organization
course
VVRL01 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Open-source microscopes, plankton imaging, algae identification, low-cost microscopy, aquatic biodiversity
publication/series
TVVR 4000
report number
TVVR25/4001
ISSN
1101-9824
language
English
additional info
Examiner: Linus Zhang
id
9187994
date added to LUP
2025-05-05 13:57:15
date last changed
2025-05-05 13:57:15
@misc{9187994,
  abstract     = {{Open-source microscopes like the PlanktoScope have recently gained attention as affordable tools for studying plankton diversity. Compared to commercial systems, they are low-cost, modular, and suitable for both scientific research and citizen science projects. In this study, we assembled and tested the PlanktoScope v.2 system to evaluate its performance in identifying and quantifying freshwater algae. We used laboratory-cultured mixed algae as samples to assess its imaging quality, resolution, and compatibility with online classification platforms such as EcoTaxa. Results show that while the system cannot replace traditional methods in precision, it can provide usable data for observing general algal group composition. We also explored its potential for future applications in local lake monitoring and proposed a protocol for its use. This work serves as a feasibility study for using low-cost, open-source imaging microscopes in routine plankton biodiversity monitoring.}},
  author       = {{Wang, Yatong}},
  issn         = {{1101-9824}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{TVVR 4000}},
  title        = {{Experimental setup for biodiversity study using Planktoscope}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}