A Preliminary Look at the Algae of Ash Meadows

A colleague of ours who is conducting research in Ash Meadows was able to get us access to samples from approximately half of the springs within the refuge. Our very preliminary look at these samples has revealed some interesting algal species! We believe that we have already identified a handful of species that are new to science, meaning they have never been seen before! We will continue to look through these samples as we prepare for our trip to collect all the springs. As we find species that are new to science, we will formally name them, describe their morphology, and publish our findings.