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A unique collection of microscopic marine and freshwater species that began a century ago has nearly doubled in size in the 20 years it has been based at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban.

The is one of the world’s most biodiverse collections, looking after microalgae, protozoa, algal pathogens and also species of macroalgae (seaweed).

More than 3,000 strains are currently stored and cultured by a team of scientists in the purpose-built laboratory, supported by UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC-UKRI).

As well as maintaining the cultures – the first of which was isolated in the 1880s – the CCAP team sends samples to researchers and companies and schools around the world, based on orders from its online catalogue and direct enquiry.

The collection was founded by Professor Ernst Georg Pringsheim and his collaborators, Victor Czurda and Felix Mainx, who isolated a number of cultures at the Botanical Institute of the German University of Prague in the 1920s. In response to the Nazi invasion of Prague, Pringsheim and his cultures moved to England where the collection was expanded and eventually taken over by E A George for Cambridge University in 1947.

It remained in the UK and after being divided into marine and freshwater collections in the 1980s it was reunited at �鶹ӰԺin 2004 when the institute’s Sir John Murray Building opened.

Since then, 1,303 strains have been added to the collection.

In the same period, the team has also despatched more than 13,000 orders to more than 100 countries, as far afield as the Azores, Gambia and Fiji.

CCAP has recently added to its analytical and genomic research capabilities, helping to explore further the potential uses of algae. Algae are already used in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, beauty products, food and other industries.

Head of CCAP Dr Michael Ross said: “The 20-year milestone of having CCAP at �鶹ӰԺis a chance to reflect on what has been achieved and the team is immensely proud to have significantly expanded the collection, as well as helping to usher in a new era of genetic investigation.

“As we seek new medicines, health treatments and sustainable sources of food and fuel, an increased effort in algal research will start to discover new applications for these complex and fascinating organisms.” 

Strains have come from polar to tropical seas, mangroves, mud, grasslands, ice, mountains, tree bark, deep sea sediments, sewage ponds, acidic or metal polluted mining areas, salt mining effluent, a sugar refinery, animal faeces, monuments, contact lenses and even hydrotherapy bath tiles. The collection has a diverse range of samples, sourced from across the globe, from Antarctica to Zambia.

CCAP also contributes to the Darwin Tree of Life Project, which aims to sequence the genomes of 70,000 species of eukaryotic organisms in Britain and Ireland.

NERC Director of Strategic Partnerships Dr Iain Williams said: “NERC congratulates CCAP as the facility celebrates its 20th anniversary as a unified collection at SAMS. Many congratulations on two decades of dedicated maintenance of this internationally important and unique biological resource, and its support of environmental science and wider research and innovation through use of the collection.”

Prof. Douglas Connelly, Associate Director for Science and Technology at the National Oceanography Centre, said: “Congratulations the CCAP on its 20-year anniversary. The collection is a phenomenal resource that is almost unmatched in the range of biological material it can offer to scientists across the globe. CCAP goes from strength to strength, and we look forward to seeing its continued success into the future.”