Introduction: Welcome to Stom@ocysts
Stom@ocysts provides (i) an online key, (ii) an image database, (iii) training tools, and (iv) a WIKI for the classification of chrysophyte stomatocysts.
Chrysophytes, the ‘golden algae’ (classes Chrysophyceae and Synurophyceae), produce siliceous resting stages (stomatocysts or simply cysts) that are abundant and diverse in lake sediments. Cyst assemblages were shown to respond to changes in water chemistry, such as the acid-base balance or nutrient input. Environmental stressors, such as atmospheric pollution, can also affect cyst assemblages. Cysts are potential indicators of past climate change because of their distinct seasonality. Changes in sedimentary cyst assemblages were shown to correlate with trends in air temperature. Cyst assemblages were used for tracking past changes in cold-season climate.
All currently available SEM monographs were taken at the Institute of Limnology (Austrian Academy of Sciences) in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Roland Schmidt.
Stom@ocysts is funded by
