We require funds to purchase state of the art Olympus AX70TRF research microscope platform which supports superior optical elements, differential interference contrast (Nomarski DIC) prisms and an epifluorescence system. In addition we request an accompanying image analysis system consisting of two cooled, charge - coupled device (CCD) cameras, computer, monitor and image analysis software. This platform will allow optimization of image information and interpretation which would greatly enhance the research capabilities of BBSR. The purchase of this instrumentation would immediately benefit a variety of research activities including studies of the microbial community's size, and trophic structure of the Northwestern Sargasso Sea, investigations of inherent optical properties in the Sargasso Sea, and studies of biodiversity morphological and phylogenetic studies of invertebrates
