About ANCRC

Cyanobacteria (i.e. blue-green algae) are wonderfully diverse. They occur globally but adapt to their local conditions. Some species cause significant water quality problems, with summer blooms releasing toxins into freshwater ecosystems making them dangerous for mammals, recreational use, drinking water reservoirs, and leading to ecologically damaging fish kills and loss of biodiversity. Several cyanobacteria species are recognised as Harmful Algae Bloom (cyanoHAB) species, with strains that occur in Australia having unique adaptations. Understanding Australian species is essential to mitigating the effects of local cyanoHABs. Establishing well-characterised reference strains is the first step in understanding the diversity and unique adaptations of Australian cyanobacteria.

Blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) in Sullivans Creek, Canberra, ACT. 1992. — Blue-green algae in Sullivans Creek, Canberra, ACT, in 1992

21 light microscope images illustrating the morphological diversity of cyanobacteria species. — Blue-green algae in Sullivans Creek, Canberra, ACT, in 1992

The Australian National Algae Culture Collection (ANACC) is the only collection of curated, publicly available algae cultures in Australia. Our collection supplies researchers around the world with unique Australian strains. Our growing collection of Australian cyanobacteria is an important reference collection for cyanobacterial researchers. Our goal is to collect, curate, and characterise a reference collection of Australian cyanobacteria.