CICCM: new acquisitions and new descriptions of historical cultures

The Cawthron Institute Culture Collection of Micro-algae (CICCM) in New Zealand includes more than 600 unique marine and freshwater microalgae and cyanobacteria isolates from tropical, temperate, and polar regions. Half of the collection is cryopreserved, and the other half is regularly sub-cultured. Live cultures, DNA extracts and chemical compounds may be purchased for research purposes, and all have a full description and toxin profile accompanying them (see www.cultures.cawthron.on-line). To date, isolates have enabled the description of new species, the preparation of biotoxin standards to underpin chemical tests, and the carrying out of toxicity studies amongst other research endeavours. For example, extracts of mass cultures of Alexandrium pacificum have been supplied to pharmaceutical companies for the preparation of paralytic shellfish toxin standards. Additions to the CICCM since 2019 include 10 dinoflagellate species, 14 diatom species and 11 cyanobacteria species. New descriptions of historic cultures in the collection include Pavlomulina ranunculiformis from the newly erected haptophyte class, Rappephyceae