Remotely controlled
The researchers from the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), Aix-Marseille University were the first to place a flow cytometer on a moored solar-powered buoy EOL (OVLFR). Throughout the 2 months deployment the CytoSub was controlled remotely. Resulting data was transferred via WIFI connection on a distance of 1.7 km. With this innovative approach, the researchers observed influence of wind, precipitation and phytoplankton community structure on the development of a spring bloom. Data collected every 2 hours showed phytoplankton community dynamics related to the daily cell cycle.
