Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

One of the main tasks of our research is the identification and quantification of the zooplankton and zoobenthos taxa within the various assemblages studied. An efficient way to determine secondary production and growth of dominant components of plankton and benthos are size frequency analysis and length-width measurements of all developmental stages. Allometric (morphometric) relationships will be established. Therefore a high performance stereomicroscope with high magnification potential (100x) is crucial to identify to species level all developmental stages, from larvae to adults as well as to measure small plankton (ca. 40µm) and benthos with important fine taxonomic details. A digital camera system with a capture potential of 5 megapixels will give excellent picture quality with outstanding detail accuracy, which is essential for precise image analysis and documentation. In addition the required equipment will allow us to train taxonomy to highly qualified personal  such as students, using the screen to explain important characteristics of zooplankton and benthic taxa. Furthermore, we will create a catalog of image catalog which can be used as taxonomic reference for scientists and general public.