Akinete germination chamber: An experimental device for cyanobacterial akinete germination and plankton emergence.

•A germination chamber was specially designed for algal akinetes.•This chamber simulates natural conditions and can better predict algal blooms.•This method incorporates natural environmental benthic substrate.•This is a straightforward and repeatable method.•This method is better to study harmful algal development and benthic-pelagic coupling.