Sets of names used for analysis of algal samples in the USGS NAWQA, EPA NARS, and ANSP projects

A common set of names is important for maximizing taxonomic consistency among analysts and comparability among datasets. Academy phycologists and collaborators, with support from the USGS, US EPA, and several state agencies, have developed and maintained a set of taxa names for use in agency sponsored projects and elsewhere. The current set of names (2011) has evolved from initial sets over the past 15-20 years. Many phycologists at several institutions have contributed to expanding and updating the names. Much of this work was supported by the USGS and documented in USGS NAWQA Workshop reports.

The first set of names, or “taxonomic systems”, was developed in 1994. Names have been updated about every 3 years, typically as part of USGS NAWQA taxonomic workshops.

More information on this dataset can be found in the Freshwater Metadatabase - BFE_73 (http://www.freshwatermetadata.eu/metadb/bf_mdb_view.php?entryID=BFE_73).