An interesting aspect of this particular algae, and any other diatom with a hard shell, is that sediment cores from the Canal can track annual abundance over time. This is the method that has been used in lakes in BC and AK to estimate sockeye escapements to lake watersheds back to BCE, at least 2100 years.

You could track the abundance, bloom cycles, see if what is occurring today has a history or if it is something new.

Or, we could just keep on keeping on.