Algae identification field guides and resources

This training video identifies and describes the different types of cyanobacteria:

• Learn to Identify Cyanobacteria Blooms (YouTube)

Learn how to safely assess and manage harmful blue-green algae blooms.

• By the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) with help from the Lake Champlain Basin Program
  • Published in March 2022
  • ITRC is a program of the Environmental Research Institute of the States (ERIS), a 501(c)3 education and research nonprofit corporation affiliated with the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) in the U.S.

Learn to evaluate potentially harmful cyanobacterial blooms (blue-green algae) in the field based on visual appearance and basic microscopy:

• Visual Guide to Common Harmful Cyanobacteria (Web Appendix)

This guide illustrates the typical appearance of:

• Common cyanobacteria blooms
• Non-cyanobacteria blooms

• By the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC)
  • ITRC is a program of the Environmental Research Institute of the States (ERIS), a 501(c)3 education and research nonprofit corporation affiliated with the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) in the U.S.

This field guide details common algal groups in the Canadian prairies:

• Algae Identification Field Guide (HTML and XML)

The listed algae are considered easily identifiable in the prairie region.

• By Nancy Serediak and Mai-Linh Huynh
  • Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (Federal Government of Canada)

Learn more about major freshwater algal groups and how to identify them:

• Algae ID Guides (PDFs)

Major algal groups featured in this field guide collection include:

• Blue-green (cyanobacteria)
• Red
• Filamentous
• Desmids
• Diatom

• By the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
  • Federal Government of Aotearoa New Zealand
  • As of July 1, 2025: NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand

This field guide provides images and descriptions of multiple algal groups:

• Marine Algae Field Guide (PDF)

• By the Deception Pass Park Foundation
  • The foundation is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that supplies financial and volunteer backing to promote education and protect the state park's natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources

Indigenous and First Nations communities who rely on subsistence fishing have an increased risk of exposure to algae and various cyanotoxins:

• Field and Laboratory Guide to Freshwater Cyanobacteria (PDF)

This guide was developed to increase awareness within the Indigenous Alaskan and U.S. Native American communities on typical algal and cyanobacteria blooms.

• By the U.S. Geological Survey (U.S. Department of the Interior)
  • Published as an open file report in 2015

This guide outlines various strategies for managing health risks related to cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) exposure and its toxins:

• Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality (PDF)

• By Health Canada (Federal Government of Canada)
  • Published in October 2023