Overview
Single Turnover Active Fluorometry (STAF) is widely accepted for non-invasive primary productivity assessment in the field. LabSTAF is the next generation of STAF-based primary productivity instrumentation for measuring phytoplankton primary productivity (PhytoPP) in all water environments from coastal waters and lakes to the open ocean.
Chelsea’s LabSTAF monitors phytoplankton using the latest in STAF technology. The system combines unparalleled sensitivity with a wide dynamic range, allowing for measurements in extreme oligotrophic waters, open oceans, coastal waters and lakes. The highly automated platform runs continuous Fluorescence Light Curves (FLCs), improving the accuracy of STAF-based PhytoPP assessment for greater precision at low biomass, correction of spectral errors, baseline fluorescence and the package effect.
LabSTAF’s compact and robust unit is ideal for deployment on research vessels and in the lab. A number of features have been specifically incorporated to minimise errors associated with the conversion of STAF data to PhytoPP including: Seven waveband excitation, dual fluorescence waveband measurement and baseline subtraction.
LabSTAF, using Single Turnover Active Fluorometry (STAF) technology, provides a revolutionary new method to enable large-scale PhytoPP assessment.
WHAT CAN LABSTAF DO FOR YOU?
- Measure – A fast, lightweight device to measure primary productivity
- Automate – continuous automated data measurement
- Versatile – Suitable for use in all environments
- Precision – Wide dynamic range with extreme sensitivity at low biomass
- Practical – Low cost, robust portable unit designed to be operated by a single person
- Inform – Health, growth and type of algae datasets
WHAT IS LABSTAF IDEAL FOR?
- Analysis of the biochemistry and ecology of aquatic systems
- Verification of satellite data
- Facilitates measurement at scales from mesoscale eddies to oceanic fronts
- Climate change research and modelling
- Monitoring of algal bloom development and community structure
- Ecological monitoring to manage water catchments
- Identify and mitigate sources affecting water quality in catchments
- Quantitative assessment for the fundamental systems driving the global carbon cycle
- Measurement of PSII photochemical flux per unit volume (JVPII) to provide an upper limit to PhytoPP at high spatiotemporal scales
CONTACT CHELSEA TODAY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LABSTAF
LABSTAF AT A GLANCE
- Benchtop instrument to measure primary productivity using fluorescence, giving data for over 50 useful parameters within 15 minutes
- LabSTAF includes a peristaltic pump, solenoid unit and flow-through stirrer unit to provide for mixing, sample exchange and a periodic cleaning cycle.
- Also included is a Surface Go 2 laptop, pre-installed with the regularly updated RunSTAF software.
- Data from LabSTAF is interpreted and analysed internally in the included Surface Go
Features & Applications
What is LabSTAF?
- Monitoring phytoplankton primary productivity using the latest in STAF technology
- Unparalleled sensitivity allowing measurements in extreme oligotrophic waters
- Wide dynamic range providing reliable measurements from open ocean, coastal waters and lakes
- Fully automated acquisition allows for continuous measurements without manual intervention
- Compact and robust portable unit – ideal for deployment on research vessels and outdoor locations
- Automated sample exchange and system cleaning for extended autonomous operation
Why LabSTAF?
- Advanced corrections as standard:
- Seven waveband excitation for spectral correction of photosynthetic measurements and assessment of community structure
- Dual fluorescence waveband measurement to compensate for the reabsorption of chlorophyll fluorescence through the package effect
- Baseline subtraction to exclude fluorescence signal from non-photosynthetic sources
LabSTAF data output
- Automated archiving so primary data is always secured
- Real time data processing and presentation with a wide range viewing options
- Flexible experimental design from manual control to complex fully automated acquisition set through the dedicated software, RunSTAF, running on the supplied Surface Go laptop
- Data extraction functions incorporated within RunSTAF provide easy access to extended primary data sets in csv format
Technical Features
- Integration of the absorption method for quantifying photosynthesis (Oxborough et al. 2012)
- Seven measurement wavebands to allow for routine spectral correction based on variable fluorescence (Fv)
- Dual narrow waveband fluorescence measurement, centered at 685 nm and 730 nm, for automated package effect correction (Boatman et al. 2019)
- Dual Single Turnover pulse method for the measurement of relaxation phase kinetics
- Full spectrum blue-enhanced actinic illumination providing up to 2500 µmol photons m-2 s-1
- Circulating water jacket for the sample chamber, which avoids intersection with optical paths
- Potential replacement for 14C based photosynthetron measurements
- Three acquisition modes: automated FLC, manual control and dark flow
Specifications
| Power supply | 140 – 400 mA at 24 V (3.4 – 9.7 W) |
| Dimensions (mm) | 235 (H) x 320 (W) x 420 (D) |
| Mass (approx.) | 8.1 kg |
| Sample Chamber | 20 mL sample volume with fused silica vertical cylinder, BK7 base |
| Excitation wavebands (wavelength) | 452, 472, 505, 417, 534, 594, 622 nm |
| Actinic light source | Collimated output from 10 – 2400 μmol photons m–² s–¹ at 12 bit resolution |
| Detection limit | Can resolve F∨ with an amplitude equivalent to 0.001 mg m-3 of chlorophyll a |
| IP rating | IP65 |
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