Airborne algae and cyanobacteria

Airborne algae and cyanobacteria were collected on the New England, USA coast by stationary plate and bottle sampling as well as by air filtration and were grown in culture. Genera of 5 green algae, 2 cyanobacteria and 4 diatoms were identified. Since all the genera cultured can be found in the local marine environment and they grew in various marine media the evidence points to at least some of these organisms likely being viable marine airborne organisms. This would be only the fourth report in the literature in which airborne algae and cyanobacteria probably of marine origin have been trapped and cultured. Further studies may point out the role of the airborne route in the distribution of these organisms.