Slide 1

HarHarmful MicMicroalgaeoalgae in Norrtherthern GGulfulf ooff MeMexixicoco WaWatersters

Cynthia A. Moncreiff, Ph.D.

The Uniivvererssiityty of Southuthern MMiissssisssippiippi DDeeppaartmmeent ofof Coasastatal ScSciennceces

Gulf Coast ReResearcchh Laboratratoory

Slide 2 What are “harmful” algae?algae?

‰ Haarmfrmful aalgalgae arare a ssmamallll subssubsetet of the microscopmicroscopic “p“pllaantsnts””, calllleed phytytoopllaankton, that occcurcur iinn ccoaoasstal wwaaters

‰ TThhere are ththousaousands ooff kinndsds of alalgagae in oouur ccoasoastal mmarinarine waters

‰ MMostost arare ddiaiattoms (caa.. 50,000 speecieciess)) aannd didinonofllagellallatetess ((22,00000 specieecies)

‰ A fefew ototherher tytypepes of alggaaee,, ssucuch aass bluebluegreens (cycyanobaanobaccteteriaria), alsoso occur inin our coacoassttaall aandnd nearshoorere watewatersrs

‰ Of thoseose rrouougghhlyly 52,200 micrcrooscopicopic oorgrgaannisismsms,, 150 ttyyppees forformm bloomsooms,, and 75 of ththesese bllooomom foforrmingming speciieses ccanan be totoxxiic to fifish, iinvenvertrteebbraratetes,s, andand/oror huhumamans -- leslesss thanthan 0.0.15%15% of tthehe phytphytoplanktoplanktonon we knowknow aabboutout

Slide 3 What is tthehe “harm”?

‰ TToxioxinsns that cancan kilkill fish,fish, invertebinvertebrates,rates, marinnee mammals, and waterfowl

‰ Toxins that accumulate in seaafofood

‰ Low dissolved oxygen levels

‰ ResResppiratory effects

‰ DiDiscscoolorloreded waterwater

Slide 4 What are their imimppacts?

Prelimieliminaryary estimatestes ofof ththe overaoverall impactpact of hhaarmfulrmful algaalgae blooms (HAHABsBs) on ththee U.U.S.S. ececonomyonomy are oveoverr $40 millllionion perper year,year, anand neanearlrlyy $1$1 billillionon oveoverr ththee papastst decade

Slide 5 How “big” is this ississuuee??

1,000 different species of fish andand shellfishish are harvrvesested from the wild or raised by aquaculture

A typical seafood market contains 5500 to 100 ddififferent fish and sshehellfiishsh at anany giveven time

Slide 6

Estimatteded annual economic impacts of harmful algae blooms:

ImImpacctt ttaargetet RangRange AvAvereragage %Tot%Totalal

PPubliublicc heaallthth $1$18,8,493,88000 - $24,912,2,500 $2$22,202,202,2,60600 45%

CommeCommercrciiall fiisshheerrieies $13,4000,,70000 - $25,265,900 $1$18,408,407,7,90900 37%

ReRecrecreationon/touriourismsm nonenone - $29,3004,4,400 $6,630,400 13%

Monniitoringng/mgt. $$2,2,002299,,900900 - $$2,2,11224,304,300 $2,088,900 4%

TOTATOTALSLS $33,924,500 - $81,$81,60607,10000 $4$49,329,329,9,80800 100%

Source: National Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in US Waters, National Science and Technology Council, Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, October 2000.

Slide 7

Economic impacts result ffrom:rom:

‰ ShelShelllffish bbeded cloosuressures or qquaruaraantintinesnes

‰ Wiildld oorr ffararmmed ffiish mortalitiesrtalities

‰ Loss ofof inccomomee ddueue ttoo clososuresures ofof rreeeefs, fafacillititiieess,, anand mmorortalialittieiess

‰ Consunsumemerr fear of purchasipurchasing seaseaffood Fish farm in the Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada (Photo courtesy BC Salmon Farmers Association)

Slide 8

AdditionalAdditional ececonoonomic iimpacmpacts resresultult from:from:

‰ LLoost mmaarinene recrearecreatitionaall oopppoportunirtunititieses including tourismism,, fisfishhining, shelellfiishingshing

‰ Decreasedcreased swswiimmmiing andand sunbatsunbathhiingng resullttiinng from blbloomoomss

‰ DeaDead fisshh or shsheelllfilfissh wasshhining up on beachesaches

‰ DiDisscocolloreoredd wawater,ter, nonoxxiioousus odoodorrs,s, aandnd humahumann respispiratoratory pprorobbllememss causecausedd by totoxinxinss rreelealeasedsed inintoto the airair

Slide 9

OtheOther ececonomiconomic iimpacmpactsts ininccluude:de:

‰ Costssts ooff maintainmaintaininging monitnitoringring andand tteestiningg progrogramamss dedesignedsigned to detteecctt algal toxinsns

‰ CoCostssts asassosociatedciated withwith cleanineaningg up fish or sshhelellflfiissh kkiillllss when theeyy do occur

‰ MedMedicacal cocosstts andand lost proproductiuctivity of perrsonssons sicckekened bbyy HAB toxinxins, eittherher from ingegessttion oorr respiraattory exexposuposure

http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/Features/Aug2001/Kuwait %20trying%20to%20contend%20with%20massive%20fish%20kill.htm Slide 10 So … what do phytoplankton do?

Photosynthesis Cycling of elements Source of dissolved and atmospheric oxygen

Base of food webs provide nutrition to zooplankton as primary consumers, and to other food web levels http://www.cajungames.com/foodchain/

http://www.cajungames.com/foodchain/

Slide 11 Phytoplankton: Vital Statistics http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS/TEACHERS/BIOLOGY

Diameter: < 1 um to over 100 um http://www.pennies.org/history/intro.html If you stack 1000 one micron phytoplankton end to end, the length of the stack would equal the width of a penny (18,000 would fit across the face)

Concentration: 1,000 to 1,000,000 per milliliter If you fill a soda can with seawater from a thick, oceanic phytoplankton bloom, the can may contain as many as 75 to 100 million cells http://www.yana-chris.com/cans/images/surge.gif Global Biomass: less than 1% of the total plant biomass on earth BUT are responsible for at least half of the net (and oxygen production) of the biosphere

http://santacruz.about.com/library/graphics/TREES.JPG Slide 12

PLAPLANKNKTTOONN We're an indolent lot . . . Shiftletlessss micrcroscopcopic drifdrifteterrss. Here in the a milliillioon trillion trillion of us just float and aimlessly worship the sun. We have no brains at all. And we don't do anything at all except procreate with promiscuous abandon and generate most of Earth's oxygen. And we have no advice at all for you diligent bipeds who use your capacious intellects to so industriously befoul the seas. For about two billion years we ggoot along quite well without you. And without us, you will suffocate.

(From "With Love and Anger" by Gordon McCloskey, Vantage Press)

Slide 13 TwoTwo domindominaantnt typestypes ofof phphytoplytoplaannktktonon occoccur inin temperatetemperate

and subtropical estuarineine and marine coacoastalstal systestems:

(1) Diatoms (2) DinDinofoflagellates

http://nigakr.hihome.com/p35.jpg

http://thalassa.gso.uri.edu/flora/arranged.htm (Photo by Jan Rines, Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia Slide 14

Harmful Algal Blooms

Slide 15

ConveConvenntionationall indindicatorstors of algalalgal blooms:blooms:

‰ reporeportrtss of discoloolored water

‰ “spills and kills” - fish kills - waterfowl deathsdeaths - marinrinee mammmmaal deaths - oyster, crab, other invertebrate dieoffs - oil and/or cchemhemical “spills”

Slide 16 PPossibleossible effecctsts ooff harmharmfulful algal blloooms:oms:

‰ Minor ttoo massive fish kkiilllls

‰ Deathsaths of iinvnverertebtebraratetes,s, mamarinerine mamammmmalals, and wawaterfterfowl

‰ Accuccumullaatioonn ooff toxinsxins iinn seafafooood: NSNSPP - neneurourottoxioxic sshelhellfislfishh poisisononining (brevevetoetoxxinins) DSP - diardiarrhetirheticc sshelhellflfiish poipoisosonnining (okadaiaic aciacid) ASASPP - amnesisiacac sheelllfilfissh poispoisoniinng (domomoicic acidid) PSPSPP - parparalytitic shsheelllflfisish poipoissoniinng (noott iinn Gulf of Mexico) Ciguguateatera fisfishh poisonisonining (ciguguatoxin; tropopicics)

‰ Respiiratoratory distrestressss

‰ LowLow ddisissolvolveed oxoxygen lelevels

Slide 17

Fish Kill Litters Local Coastline Thousands Of Dead Fish Found

POSTED: 11:22 a.m. EDT October 8, 2002 UPDATED: 1:58 p.m. EDT October 8, 2002

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Beachgoers in Volusia County discovered a smelly situation Tuesday.

Thousands of dead fish were found along a 5-mile stretch along New Smyrna Beach, WESH News Channel 2 reported.

The fish can be found anywhere between 19th Avenue and the inlet, but the largest concentration is south of Crawford Road, reports indicated.

Local observers said it's the most dead fish they've seen on the beach in 20 years.

Slide 18

Algae bloom also blamed for New Smyrna fish kill

Saturday, October 12, 2002

Associated Press

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — High concentrations of a warm-water alga were found in seawater samples taken from where tens of thousands of dead fish washed up earlier in the week, scientists said.

The alga, Trichodesmium erythraeum, is fairly common in tropical and subtropical waters around the globe, said Ann Forstchen, a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Marine Research Institute in St. Petersburg.

Slide 19 Naples Daily News

Algae may be airborne irritant reported at Brevard beaches

Wednesday, November 6, 2002

Associated Press

SATELLITE BEACH — is to blame for making beachgoers in Brevard County feel sick last weekend, health officials said Tuesday.

Several people complained of persistent coughing, irritated throats and runny noses after visiting beaches from Cape Canaveral to Satellite Beach.

The Florida Marine Research Institute tested the waters off the county's coast and found high levels of the microorganism Karenia brevis, Brevard environmental manager Cheryl Dunn said. The single-celled alga contains a powerful neurotoxin called brevetoxin. Wind and wave actions often send the microscopic cells into the air, where people can breathe them in. In heavy concentrations, the algae turns the water a brick-red color.

A red tide bloom off New Smyrna Beach, about 50 miles north, last month killed thousands of fish.

Slide 20 Toxic Red Tide Kills 60 Florida Manatees April 17, 2003

MIAMI (Reuters) - A toxic "red tide" has killed at least 60 endangered manatees along the southwest Florida coast in the last two months, the second-largest mass death of sea cows blamed on the deadly algae bloom, state biologists said on Thursday.

The deaths, caused by a huge red tide stretching from Venice to Marco Island, represent about 2 percent of the Florida manatee population. In 1996 a red tide was blamed for 149 manatee deaths, most of them in a six-week period in March and April.

... The Florida Marine Research Institute said 60 manatee deaths between Feb. 27 and April 15 were caused by red tide … "They can ingest the toxins when they eat or they can inhale the toxins when they come to the surface to breathe," said Tom Pitchford, a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Once the toxin is in the animal, it affects their coordination and causes a paralysis.”

Slide 21

Possiblssiblee cacauses of harmfurmful algalgaae bblloommss?

‰ Elevaatedted / excesexcesss lleveveellss of nutriientsents – PoPollutillutioonn – RunRunooff

‰IInnttrodroduuctioctionns ofof HHABAB organganissmsms – BBallastallast wawaterter – ChaChannggeses iinn hydroolologgy

‰ Changesanges in regionalonal hyhydrolology – SurfacSurface floflow ppatatternerns – PrPreecipitaitation

Slide 22

Is pollllututioion increacreasing the concernern?

Publicity associatedated with HAB events is increasing public awareness

EleElevated nutrieient levels can exacerbatbatee blooms

Accessible public ininfformation on water quality anandd on HAHABB eventents is essesentntiiaal ttoo avoiid tthhee spreaadd of misinformation

Slide 23

Clean Water Act

Federal Water Pollutioionn Control Act of 1972 initiated regulated discharges of pollpollutants for U.S. waters

ThThee Clean Wateter AcActt (CWAWA),), amended to thisis in 1977, focused on toxic subsbstances

TheThe 1987 reauthorization of thethe CWACWA included sewawagege treatment pplanlants

Slide 24

Pre- and post 1972 distributions of HAHABB eveventsents

Source: WHOI HAB web site, Dr. Donald Anderson http://www.whoi.edu/hab/HABdistribution/72toxinmap.html Slide 25

Source: WHOI HAB web site, Dr. Donald Anderson http://www.whoi.edu/hab/HABdistribution/HABmap.html

Slide 26

KnoKnowwn HarmHarmfulful AlgAlgalal BlooBloomm (HAB)(HAB) SpSpecieciees Northern Gulflf ooff MMexicexico

GenusGenus and species Problem(s) AAkkashiwo sanguinea associated with fish kikillls AlexAlexandriuandrium monillatatuum toxic (f(fish & invertebrates) AnAnabaena spp. neurotoxins; low D.O. CeCeratiutium furcfurca possible cauusse of DSP CCereratium hihircus low D.O. DinDinophysisis caududata DSDSP;P; tummoror promototer GGononyaulax ppolygolygramma low D.O. (fish and shellfish)h) HetHeterocapsa sp. low D.O. Heterosisigma akasashiwo toxic to fish KarKarenia brbrevisis NSP (brevetoxin producer) Linnggulooddininium polyedrum toxic;c; limited food value OsOscillatoria erythraea toxic to copepods Prorocentrum spp. DSP (okadaic acid) PsePseudodo-nitzschia spp. ASP (domoic acid)

Slide 27 LLocalocal GulfGulf of MMeexico HAB Events

ReReporportt Dattee BlooBloomm LocLocatationion HAHAB Speecicieess Celllsls pperer liter

27 Junnee 22000000 souutth shorhore, HoHorn Islandnd OsciOscillallatororia ererythhrraeaeaa >1,000,000 12 Sepptt 2002000 SSE of Dog Keyyss Pass Aleexxanandrium monilailattum 551,000 15 Sepptt 2002000 PoPoint Cadetdet Harrbbor ChaChatttoneonelllala susubbsaallsa 503,330 16 May 2002001 Missississsiippi Sounund Aleexxanandrium monilailattum 20,000 CerCeratatium hirrccus 260,000 Dinnoophphyysis caaududata 310310,,000000 PPrrororooccenenttrum grgraaccilile 920,000 PPrrororooccenenttrum mmiicansans 30,30,0000 PPrrororooccenenttrum scuuttellumllum 1,420,0,00000 16 May 2002001 EaEasst Petit Boiiss Islalanndd Aleexxanandrium monilailattum 630 Dinnoophphyysis caaududata 1,350 KKararenia brbreevvis 135 PPrrororooccenenttrum grgraaccilile 1,395 PPrrororooccenenttrum scuuttellumllum 1,530 28 Junnee 20200011 WeWest ttiip of HHoorn Isllaanndd CerCeratatium hirrccus 5000,0,000000 toto iinn excessexcess of 1,000000,000 LLiingngulododiinniiuumm polyeeddrum 4 Septptembeberr 22000011 MMisissisisssippppi barrrrierier iisslands Aleexxanandrium monilailattum 80 to 12,900 CerCeratatium hirrccus 530 to 68680 Dinnoophphyysis caaududata 50 to 800 6 Septptembeberr 22000011 SSmmugglgler’er’s CovCove, Cat IsIslandand, MS Aleexxanandrium monilailattum Samplemple #1#1:: 8,750,0,00000 Samplemple #2#2:: 3,810,0,00000 11 Sepptt 2002001 EEasastt aandnd Westst SShihip Islaandnds Aleexxanandrium monilailattum EEaastst SShhiip:p: 21,21,424200 Westst SShhiipp: 334334,,00000 11 Sepptt 2002001 EEasastt titipp and westst tiptip of Hornrn IIsslandland Aleexxanandrium monilailattum 420 - 1,708 20 Sepptt 2002001 Nortrthhwwest HHoorrnn IIslslaandnd Aleexxanandrium monilailattum 1,1,414100,000

Slide 28 LoLocal nutriientent sources / inputinputs?s?

Slide 29 Chlloroporophyll a and phytoplankton specispecies as elevated nutrient rresponseesponse variables

140

Graveline Bayou 120 Bayou Casotte

100 Bangs Bayou Diatoms ) l Diatoms g/ 80 Diatoms (m a

60 l P.P. mmiinimum

Ch 40

20

0 J Fe Ma Ma Ap Ap Ma Ma J Ju Ju A A S Oc Oc No No De De a une ug 1 u ept l l n v g 25 b 10 y y v r r c c t t y y r 1 r 2

9 2 1 1 2 1 27 9 2 1 2 2 4 1 9 1 4 7 0 2 8 0 3 7 4 7 2 1998

Slide 30

CChhanganges iinn regregioonalnal surfsurfaace fflowlow ppaatterns?rns?

http://www.cbi.tamucc.edu/~gomcirculation/

Slide 31

Slide 32

DDecreecreasesedd prepreccipipiittaationtion / droudrought?ght?

Slide 33

Slide 34

Slide 35

AlgalAlgal BloomBloom EventsEvents in 20200202

Only threeee HAB events were documented

Allll were blooms of Prorocentrum micans; cell counts ranged from 4,000 to 43,000 celllls/liter

OOttherher HAB spececies wwerere detectectted, but nonott at bloom concentrations (<1(<1,0,000 cells/L

Slide 36

Slide 37

Slide 38 Other local HAHAB forming species:

Alexandrium monilatum and Ceratium furca, two harmful species found in northern Gulf of Mexico waters

Illustrated checklist of Skagerrak

Slide 39

Summmemerr 199999 AlAlexexanandriuium moninilalattum blobloom inin MMisisssisissippppii Sound

Slide 40

Slide 41

Dinophysis caudata (SEM) and Prorocentrum micans, two HAB species from northern Gulf of Mexico waters linked with DSP

K. Steidinger, FMRI

Illustrated checklist of Skagerrak plankton

Slide 42

“Driver” behind investigations into HAB species:

‰ First recorecordrdeded occurreoccurrencence of a toxicxic ““reredd tide”de” inin the wawatersters ofof MMissississisippippi SSoouundnd frfroomm Novvemember - DDeeccemembeerr 1996

‰ Toxxicic “r“red ttiidde”e” sspecipecies inin 191996 blbloom: KaKarenia brbrevis (foormrmerly Gymnomnoddiniinium breve; PPtytychochodidiscus brebrevisis)

‰ Sizzee rangerange: 2200 - 40 um

‰ Compmpaarrabablele parrtticiclele: rraagweed polleenn

Slide 43

1996 KarKareniania brevisbrevis BlooBloom Histostoryry

‰ FirFirsst everever dodoccuumemented blbloooomm of KaKarerenia brevis in norrthth cecenntrtralal Gullff of MeMexixicoco watwaters,ers, wwithith rereefef clclososuuresres in ccooasastaltal Mississipppipi fromfrom 4 NNovemovember 19199696 thrrouough 26 FebrFebruaryuary 19919977

‰ Firsrstt rerepoported ococcucurrrreencnce in low ssalinaliniityty nortrtherhern Gulf ofof MeMexxico eestuarinstuarinee sysysstems

‰ MulMultiptiplele factorors iinn plaplace whwhiicch may hhavave rresultedesulted in bloomoomss mmoovivinng insshohore and ulttimateimately afaffefectingcting aactivctively hhararveestedsted oysoysterter rereeefs

‰ InfInformatiormation for momodelindeling andand predipredictiotion ooff bblloooomm eventeventss isis bebeing usedused at presentpresent

Slide 44

BloomBloom ChronChronologyology in Mississippissippii Waters

‰ Collected ssououth of bbararrriieer iislanslands on 26 October 1996

‰ Collellectedcted alalonong north shore ofof barrieerr islands on 31 October and on 1 NovNoveember

‰ Observedrved in water samplsampleses from MS-AL border on 4 November

‰ Observedrved in water samplsampleses from MS-LA border on 7 November

‰ KaKareninia brevis last observed on 1111 December in wawaterter sasamplmples frofromm vivicinity of ooyystesterr rreeeeffs

Slide 45

R/R/VV BilBilll DemorDemoran, 34’ vessel inin GCRRLL flfleet duduririnngg 119996 bloomoom eveventent

Slide 46

Aerial viiewewss ofof R/VR/V DemDemoran neanear edge of thethe HAHAB in Miissssissisippippi SoSounund

Slide 47

Karenia brevis and diatoms (1996 bloom event)

Slide 48 Other phytoplanktoytoplankton present included:

Oscillatoria erythraea and mixed diatoms

Akashiwo sanguinea

Slide 49 Direction of Drifter Tracks in NE Gulf of Mexico

Slide 50

Potential for Recurrent Blooms

‰ NoNo bloombloomss of KarKarenia brevis observeded durduriing 199797 in nnoortheherrnn GuGullff of MMexicoexico

‰ HoweHowevver, K.K. brevisbrevis occasionallycasionally prespresent at veryvery lowlow densitidensities off LLouisiouisiana,ana, Alabama and NW Florida

‰ BloomsBlooms ococcucurreded in FL aannd TTXX duringring fallfall of 22000000

‰ PrevioPreviouuss 3300-year cyclcycle for bloomsblooms in TexTexasas

‰ Anecdotecdotalal accountaccount of K. brevis bloom in LouisiLouisiananaa waters in fallfall of 11996969

Slide 51 Potential for Modelindeling and PrediPrediction of FutFuture KareniKarenia brevis Blooms

‰ Satellite imimagery and detection

‰ SeaWifs and MMODIODISS datdata

‰ NatiNationalonal Data BuBuoy system

‰ DrifDrifter bubuoy programsograms

‰ Meteorological/hydrologicalgical modeling

‰ Basic phytoplankton monitoringring program

Slide 52 ChancChanceses fforor futfutureure blooms?blooms?

Slide 53

FishFish KiKillslls and EffEffectscts on MarineMarine ResResourcurcees

Slide 54 Wateterfowlrfowl anand MarMarineine MammaMammall DeDeaaththss

Slide 55 NoNonn-commercicommercialal fifishsh kkillsills

Slide 56 Effects on sshellfishhellfish

Slide 57 MassiveMassive fishfish kikillslls

http://www.acnatsci.org/research/kye/mendw.gif

Slide 58

‰ FFisishh killskills cancan reresult from totoxinsns, lloow dissoollved oxygen,en, oorr bbooth

‰ RRaanngege inin ssizeize frfrom a fewfew dodozzen ffllooaatingng fishfish iinn open wateter to tons of ffiish wawashishingng ashore

Slide 59

“Smallmall cellcells,s, bigbig heheaaddaacches”s”

PriPrimary types ooff microalgae causcausiinng HAB eventevents are:e:

‰ DinDinoflaflagegelllalattes

‰ DiaDiatoms

‰ CyanoCyanobabacteriteria (bluueegeegrreeeen alggaeae))

Slide 60

PfiesterPfiesteria piscicidpiscicida

http://www.aquariums.state.nc.us/Pfiest/StrangePFILES/bugdancin.gif

http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/pfiesteria/fact.html

Slide 61

CurreCurrennt Directionsctions in HAB MonMonitoringitoring

‰ Use of SeaWifs satellite imagery to track progrprogressess ofof bloomsblooms in the Gulf

‰ UUsese ooff iinfnforrmatimatioon froomm pprreveviousious bblolooomsms to ddevelopevelop predictive models

‰ HABSOS program and goalsals

Slide 62 HABSOHABSOSS Program

‰ Abbrevieviatation forfor “Harmful Algal Blooms ObserviObservinng SysSystem”; satellite basedbased

‰ Uses local knowledge of HAB events

‰ ApplicatApplication of remotely sensed data for monitotoriring in tthhe northern Gulf of MexiMexico

Slide 63

26 September 2000 Coastwatch imagery (R. Stumpf, chl a algorithm)

Slide 64

8 November 2002 Coastwatch imagery (R. Stumpf, chl a algorithm) Slide 65 SSouourrcecess for moremore ininformationformation on hhaarmfulrmful algaalgae:e:

http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/

Slide 66

http://www.bigelow.org/habhab/

http://wwwww..cdc.gov/ncnceheh/hsb/algal.htm

http://www.habhrca.noaa.gov/