Cultures

Supply of cultures

Please see the list of cultures for those strains currently available. Below are some of the possible uses for our algal, cyanobacterial, and duckweed strains.

To purchase cultures, please submit your order online, or contact us via email, phone, or fax. The online ordering system only allows orders for up to 100 mL volumes of cultures to be placed, however, larger volumes of up to several litres may be available for some strains. Please contact the curator directly via email or phone for details regarding availability and cost of larger culture volumes and to place an order.

Further information regarding ordering and payment options is found in the ordering information and fees section.

Please read terms and conditions, prior to ordering.

Please read the section on culture information section prior to receiving your new cultures.

Possible usage of cultures

Many of our strains were isolated from areas of environmental concern or are useful in environmental research and biotechnology applications. Potential uses include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Ecotoxicity test strains of algae and aquatic vascular macrophytes (e.g., Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Lemna gibba, and Lemna minor)
  • Feed organisms for daphnids, protozoans and shellfish larvae (e.g., Chlorella sp., Rhodomonas minuta, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Dunaliella tertiolecta)
  • High lipid species that are potential sources for biofuel (e.g., Ankistrodesmus falactus, Chlorella sp., Coccomyxa sp.)
  • Production of natural novel products for use in cosmetic, food and drug applications (e.g., Chlorella sp., Porphyridium sp.)
  • Toxic cyanobacteria for use in algal bloom, bio-control, and toxic effects studies as well as development of toxin detection methods (e.g., Microcystis aeruginosa, Microcystis flos-aquae, Anabaena sp.)
  • Cyanobacteria from industrially polluted sites (e.g., Phormidium sp., Lyngbya sp.)
  • Algae and cyanobacteria causing odour and taste in freshwaters (e.g., Anabaena sp., Synura sp., Uroglena sp.)
  • Algae from extreme environments: high salt (e.g., Navicula comta), low pH (e.g., Dunaliella acidophila, Euglena mutabilis), low temperature (e.g., Chaetoceros septentrionalis)
  • Filamentous algae and diatoms from acid-stressed lakes (e.g., Mougeotia spp., Tabellaria flocculosa)
  • Physiology and molecular basis of metal toxicity and tolerance in algae using strains that are resistant to heavy metals (e.g., Coccomyxa sp., Euglena mutabilis, Scenedesmus acutus, Stichococcus sp.)
  • Public and aesthetic but also environmentally beneficial projects such as “algae gardens”. Further information may be found on the following websites:
  • Production of natural novel products for use in cosmetic, food and drug applications (e.g., Chlorella sp., Porphyridium sp.)
  • Carbon sequestration and bioremediation
  • The impact of ultra-violet radiation on algae
  • Taxonomic identification of algae by DNA barcoding.

Research cultures

It is very helpful if you let us know the purpose for which the cultures will be used so that we can advise on the best strain for the project. Also, please let us know of any research that you publish using our cultures and send us an electronic copy or link, if possible. By doing so, you provide us with information regarding the types of research being conducted with CPCC cultures and the publications that ensue from the use of these cultures. This information is valuable to the funding agency, NSERC, and also helps us to broaden our knowledge of the algae in our collection.

Algae and aquatic macrophytes for ecotoxicity testing

The CPCC maintains a number of species commonly used in bioassays for toxicity testing or as food for Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, zebra mussels, and other aquatic invertebrates. The most commonly ordered isolates for ecotoxicity testing are Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata CPCC 37 (formerly known as Selenastrum capricornutum), Lemna gibba CPCC 310, Lemna minor CPCC 490 & CPCC 492, and Navicula pelliculosa CPCC 552. The isolates most commonly ordered as a food source for other organisms are Chlorella fusca CPCC 89, Chlorella kesslerii (formerly Chlorella vulgaris) CPCC 266, Chlorella vulgaris CPCC 90, Nitzschia palea CPCC 160, and Scenedesmus acutus CPCC 10. These cultures are axenic and can be provided on agar slants and/or as liquid starter cultures of various volumes. Technical help is available by phone, fax or email.

Science fair projects

The CPCC provides cultures, media and advice for students who are conducting Science Fair projects. Some of the typical genera used in these experiments are Scenedesmus, Chlorella and Dunaliella. Please contact the Curator for specific information on the costs.