Dr Ruth Eriksen

I have a PhD in Analytical Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, focusing on using phytoplankton as biological indicators of environmental stress. I have established a NATA accredited laboratory for the ID of marine and freshwater phytoplankton species, focusing on the needs on public health and aquaculture programs for HAB early warning programs. I have experience in algal culture, species level identification and have completed the IOC HAB course in Denmark (2014, 2021) and recently the Advanced Phytoplankton Course in Naples, Italy (2024). I provide advice for several IMOS plankton monitoring projects, as well as regionally focused phytoplankton projects, applying LM and SEM routinely for identification. I am a strong advocate for species-level characterisation of phytoplankton community composition as part of a multiple lines of evidence approach to understanding, and developing forecasting tools for HAB events and shifts in community composition. I work with statistical ecologists to interpret plankton time-series, and provide validation datasets for ML/AI approaches to a range of plankton projects. I contribute to publishing identification guides for a range of phytoplankton groups, working with experts, and am an Associate Editor for Diatom Research. I teach phytoplankton taxonomy at the PG level (IMAS). I am keen to support the ANZ- HAB network going forward at this critical juncture in developing national capability in HAB response.