Geographic diversity of phytoplankton species along the Outer Banks 2005 to 2013

The phytofinders of First Flight High School, Kill Devil Hills, NC, is a student run club dedicated to collecting and identifying phytoplankton along the Outer Banks. Club members regularly sample and analyze phytoplankton populations in search of potentially harmful algal bloom species, including Pseudonitzschia, a marine diatom that produces domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin known to be dangerous to humans. The obserations are contributed to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Phytoplankton Monitioring Network, which has worked with the students from the beginning.