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Home , Alexandrium monilatum, Algal nutrient solution, Ceratium, Chaetognatha, Coolia, Gambierdiscus

1 The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO May 2008 HARMFUL NEWS

An IOC Newsletter on toxic algae and algal blooms http://ioc.unesco.org/hab/news.htm No. 36

• Turkey Mucilage event associated with and in Sea of Marmara, Turkey The massive presence of consisting of white gelatinous material mid-autumn 2007 along the north- mucilaginous organic matter, resulting initially suspended at the surface and in eastern part of Marmara Sea with from planktonic and benthic algal the column was noticed along the temperatures 18.4±1.0oC. It extended blooms, has become more frequent in Turkish coast of the Marmara Sea from Izmit Bay to the Dardanelles during many coastal around Europe, (especially Izmit Bay). Marmara Sea the calm weather period; it was denser especially in the Adriatic. The has a rather complex hydrological and of longer duration in Izmit Bay, appearance of mucilage in the Adriatic system, in a zone of transition between which is affected by intense industrial Sea has been reported periodically since dense (salinity 37- 38.5 ‰) and warmer activity, and which has a weaker 1800, with major blooms during waters originating in the Mediterranean circulation compared to Marmara Sea. the 1990s [1]. The mucilage Sea, and cold, lower-salinity water (20- To identify phenomenon of the Adriatic Sea had 22 ‰) coming from the . The responsible for the mucilage, water usually been related to extracellular pycnocline lies at 10 to 30 m depth and samples were collected from surface organic matter of phytoplanktonic origin. varies seasonally [2]. and deep water at target sites (Fig 1) An extensive mucilage event The first mucilage was observed in (Cont’d on p.2)

• Mexico A bloom of balechii in Michoacan, Pacific Mexico From 5 to 12 June, 2007, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) conducted the Talud XI cruise on the Pacific coast of Mexico. While at stations 15 and 16 off Michoacan State, a marked red discoloration was observed. Microscopical analyses revealed the presence of Ceratium balechii Meave, Okolodkov et Zamudio [1]. This species, a very frequent bloom forming organism [2](Fig.1A), has been commonly confused mainly with Ceratium dens Ostenfeld et Schmidt [3: Fig. 11, see the drawing of the anomalous chain of two individuals e)] and recently, with Ceratium divaricatum Kofoid [4]. Nevertheless, the cell morphology is quite distinct. The body is pentagonal, asymmetric, and very different from the above mentioned species. Also, the antapical horns have different size and direction. Meave et al [1] propose that according to the roughness and size of the antapical horns there may be two forms, hypothesizing that they result from an adaptation to different water densities. At the moment, we are not able to speculate on this last point, since our observations in a single place and population showed a wide size variability (Fig.1B) as has been shown in cultures [5]. We have observed minute specimens (Fig.1C) as well as some showing teratogenic changes Fig. 1. A) Ceratium balechii, dark field at 40x, 1 ml sample. B) (Fig.1D). This species, unlike C. dens and C. divaricatum, is Four cells of different size. C) Small cell. D) Anomalous specimen with three antapical horns. B-D) Phase contrast, 200x. (Cont’d on p. 3) The publication of Harmful Algae News is sponsored by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Vigo, and the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen. 2

(Cont’d from p. 1) from Marmara Sea (nine sampling stations from Istanbul Strait on October and December 2007, February and March 2008; from Prince Islands on February 2008; and from Izmit Bay on October 2007) during the bloom period (September 2007-March 2008). Temperature, salinity, pH, conductivity and dissolved profiles were obtained with a SEABIRD CTD probe during the cruise in Istanbul Strait and Prince Island. Some nutrients and chlorophyll a analyses were performed according to standard methods. Phytoplankton samples were collected for qualitative and quantitative analyses by Nansen bottle and nets Fig 1. Sampling sites (Istanbul Strait, Prince Island, and Izmit Bay) from Marmara Sea during the (with mesh size 10µ and 30µ) mucilage events. respectively. Phytoplankton analysis was carried out by the Utermöhl abundant species (Proboscia presence, in fairly high numbers, of method. During the mucilage event, alata, Rhizosolenia sp., fragilis is reported in aggregates were sampled in the water Pseudosolenia calcar-avis). Total several papers [4, 5, 6] concerning the 7 column by SCUBA divers using diatom density was more than 10 mucilage events in the Adriatic Sea. In -1 syringes, and also collected from cells L . This phenomenon successively our observations, Gonyaulax fragilis sediments and . Some increased and spread on a large scale contributed to the bloom as biomass and environmental parameters during the in the Marmara Sea. However, shifts possibly to mucilage production, but its different sampling periods are were observed in dominant species density did not reach high numbers; its 3 summarized in Table 1. during the rest of the bloom period maximum concentration (36 x 10 -1 Historically, diatoms have always (Thalassiosira sp., Ditylum cells L ) was recorded in the been considered as the algal group brightwellii, Coscinodiscus spp., pycnocline (15 m) off Prince Island. The mainly involved in this kind of event due Leptocylindrus minimus, Skeletonema dominant species of phytoplankton to their abundance in mucilaginous costatum, spp., during the mucilage event were similar aggregates [3] and for their known Cerataulina pelagica, Cylindrotheca at all investigated sites from Marmara extracellular release of polysaccharides closterium, Pseudo-nitzschia cf. Sea. Furthermore, a large scale increase [1, 4]. In our observations, high diatom seriata). In February 2008 of (especially densities were recorded during this simultaneously with the diatom bloom Emiliana huxleyi) was also observed 6 -1 period (Fig. 2). During the first days of (max value 3.9 x 10 cells L ), the during the mucilage event off Istanbul. this bloom, the phytoplankton Gonyaulax fragilis Mucilage can affect marine community was characterized by became abundant in the mucilage. The ecosystems by massive development of

Table 1. Comparison of minimum and maximum values of some parameters at the surface during the mucilage events in 2007-2008, and different periods of study in Marmara Sea [2,7]. Izmit Bay Istanbul Strait Prince Island Autumn-Winter period of 1999-2000 2007-2008 1997-1998 2007-2008 2007-2008 different years (from Aktan et al. 2005) Mucilage Period (from Aktan et al. 1999) Mucilage Period Mucilage Period Water temperature (ºC) 21.2-23.0 17.5 4.8-15.3 6.7-16 7.4-9.6 D. oxygen (mg L-1) 8.3-15.6 9.4 7.4-11.0 10.1-10.7 7.9-10.1 -1 NO2+NO3-N (µg N L ) 7.7-15.7 1.4-2.8 6.2-8.4 3.8-10.6 -1 PO4-P (µg P L ) 2.3-14.5 0.0-0.2 0.1 0.0-0.1 T. (µg P L-1) 13.0-28.1 0.2-0.5 0.1 -1 SiO2-Si (µg Si L ) 57-257 3.0-7.1 0.01- 0.04 0.035-0.043 Conductivity (µS cm-1) 29 19.1-19.2 22.5-28.9 pH 8.5 8.32-8.48 9.4-9.6 7.5-9.6 Surface salinity (psu) 20-22 20 17.1-18.1 21.1-25.3 Secchi disc (m) 2.5-5.5 <1 6.0-7.0 5-5.5 3.7-5.5 Chlorophyll a (mg m-3) 3.6-7.0 - 0.8-0.9 0.13-1.86 1.3 1-9 Dinoflagellates Single and Single and Single and Dominant algae in density dinoflagellates coccolithophores colonial diatoms colonial diatoms colonial diatoms (E. huxleyi) Dinoflagellates Diatoms and Diatoms and Single and Dominant algae in frequency dinoflagellates coccolithophores dinoflagellates dinoflagellates (G. colonial diatoms (E. huxleyi) (G. fragilis) fragilis)

3

Acknowledgements Diatoms Dinoflagellates Others We thank to Prof. Dr. Bayram Öztürk for providing opportunities for the 1000000 E. huxleyi research cruise, to personnel of R/V Yunus-S for assistance in the field 10000 studies and to Mine Çardak, Aysu Gümüsoglu and Esra Balcioglu for 100 assistance in the laboratory. 2007 / 2008 1998 / 2007 / 2008 2007 / 2008 1999 / 2000 1 References: IZMIT BAY ISTANBUL ST. PRINCE IS. 1. Ciglenecki I et al 2003. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 263: 17-27 Fig. 2. Comparison of mean densities (cells L-1 , logarithmic) of phytoplankton groups during the 2. Aktan Y et al 2005. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci mucilage events in 2007-2008 and the different periods of study at target sites (Izmit Bay, Istanbul 64: 372-384 Strait, Prince Islands) of Marmara Sea. 3. Rinaldi A et al 1995. Sci Total Environ 165: 165-183 4. Pompei M et al 2003. Harmful Algae 2: aggregates that cover large areas, and on the sediments. During our dive we 301-316 it can also seriously affect fisheries and noticed that dense sedimentation of 5. Pistocchi R et al 2005. Sci Total Environ tourism [1]. During these observations, these aggregates (on sediment, mussels 353: 307-316 6. Sampedro N 2007. Harmful Algal News 33: neither nor anoxia nor fish kills and crabs, etc.) has a negative effect 10-11 were recorded, but the large quantity of on the benthic ecosystem. Following this 7. Aktan Y et al 1999. The Phytoplankton of Bosphorus, in the Period May 1997-August mucilage aggregates affected fishing and preliminary study, we have started a long 1998, 2nd European Phycological Congress, sport diving activities (personal term monitoring project of these 85, Italy communications from fishermen and mucilaginous phenomena to explore divers). Extensive benthic mucilage their distribution and seasonal dynamics, Y. Aktan, A. Dede & P. S. Ciftci. aggregates were also observed on the potential causes (nutrients, climatic, Istanbul University, Fisheries sediments and mussels; the main bloom hydrographical and oceanographic Faculty, Ordu Cad. Nº 200, forming species are planktonic and conditions), consequences (benthic and Istanbul-Turkey. benthic colonial and single cells of pelagic ecosystem and fisheries) and Email: [email protected] diatoms within the mucilage aggregates the possible relationship with grazers.

(Cont’d from p. 1) associated with upwelling. Even though C. divaricatum is very variable [6: Fig. 31], the antapical horns are never directed downwards. Cortés and Nuñez pointed out two peaks of abundance in spring (March- April) and autumn (October) in the Gulf of [2]. Our observations in early summer, far outside and south of the Gulf of California, provide a new record in a different climatological and hydrographical region (Fig 2). Surface samples (10 ml sedimented for 24 hours) from 30 stations were observed (400x) and quantified [7], but 1ml was used for stations 15 and 16 due to the higher Fig. 2. Map showing the track of the Talud XI cruise. Station numbers in parenthesis and plain abundance. The concentrations (Fig 2) numbers are counts of C. balechii (cells·ml-1 ). are the highest recorded for this species in the Pacific: 1,806 cells·ml-1 at station non toxic organism, it has been related References: -1 16 (688 cells·ml at station 15). to fish mortality (together with C. furca 1. Meave del Castillo ME et al 2003. Concurrently, at station 16 were and C. falcatum), mainly due to oxygen Hidrobiológica 13: 75-91 2. Cortés Altamirano R & A Nuñez Pasten recorded the lowest temperature and depletion. 2000. Revista de Biologia Tropical 48: 305- salinity (24.52ºC and 34.24 PSU) during Acknowledgements 311 the cruise, in agreement with the idea 3. Böhm A 1931. Bernice P Bishop Museum, of a relationship of the species with To A. Nuñez-Pasten for his Bulletin 87: 2- 47 invaluable help in sampling. upwelling. Even though C. balechii is a (Cont’d on p. 4) 4

• Italy What is Chrysophaeum taylorii Lewis & Bryan doing in Sardinia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean)? French coasts [3]. In the former, the phenomenon has been very intense, especially in the area between Sicily and the Tuscan Archipelago and in the latter along eastern Corsica. In these cases the main producer species were Chrysonephos lewisii (Taylor) Taylor and Nematochrysopsis marina (Feldman) Billard (Chrysophyceae) and Acinetospora crinita (Carmichael) Kornmann (Phaeophyceae) [4-5]. Our studies were performed at the request of the Marine National Park of La Maddalena (NP-LM; www.lamaddalenapark.it) and Marine Fig. 1. Geographical localization of the sampled areas interested by the C. taylorii proliferation. Protected Area of Tavolara-Capo Codacavallo (MPA-TCC; We report the first event of an nuisance”. In contrast, this aspect was www.amptavolara.it), whose watch- intense growth of Chrysophaeum important in Sardinia where C. taylorii monitoring had highlighted the taylorii Lewis & Bryan covered primarily hard benthic substrate anomalous presence of the benthic (Pelagophyceae) [1] on a broad section (mainly granitic), and sandy and mucillage in their areas of interest since of the coast (Fig. 1) of eastern Sardinia substrates (predominantly Posidonia the beginning of the summer, but with (Tyrrhenian Sea, Western oceanica) in marine areas of high the maximum extension in August. Mediterranean) during summer 2007. naturalistic and tourist interests. Furthermore, this exceptional and This species was observed once before C. taylorii has never been reported “strange” situation had generated alarm in a sample collected off Elba (Tuscany as a possible agent of benthic among local people and tourists, whose Archipelago) in summer 2005, when its Mediterranean mucilage. The reports were numerous. growth was very low (personal hyperproduction of benthic mucilaginous Our activities were also carried out communication Sartori & Boddi) and material has been documented since the as a member of the BENTOX-NET without any kind of “public early 1990s along both Italian [2] and (www.bentoxnet.it), the network of

4. Hernández-Becerril DU & R Alonso- Rodriguez 2004. Phycol Res 52: 346-354 5. Hasle GR & E Nordli 1951. Aph Norske Videns Acad Oslo, I: Ma.-Naturv KI 4: 1-25 6. Kofoid CA 1908. Univ Calif Publ Zool 4: 345-386 7. Andersen P & J Throndsen 2003. In Monographs on Oceanographic Methodology, Hallegraeff GM et al.(eds.) UNESCO 11: 99-113 R. Cortés-Altamirano.(UA Mazatlán-ICMyL), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Email: [email protected] A.P. Sierra-Beltrán. Lab. Genética molecular, CIBNOR, México. Email: [email protected] D.E. Serrano-Hernández. (UAMazatlán-ICMyL), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Photo 1. NP-LM. Mucilaginous cover associated to C. taylorii growth on different substrates: on granitic rock (a) and on P. oceanica (b); c) piece of mucilage and presence of gas bubbles; d) Email: [email protected] mucilaginous patch on the surface. 5

25.0 Temperature (?C) 34 Salinity (psu) The event in Tyrrhenian coastal 24.5 33 areas of Sardinia during summer 2007 24.0 32 seems to be an example of this kind of 23.5 31 exceptional event, but in very distinct 23.0 30 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 biogeographical and environmental

MPA-TCC NP-LM MPA-TCC NP-LM conditions, which raises a long list of 0.20 Total phosphorus (µM P) 2.5 Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (µM N) questions. 0.15 2.0 1.5 Will this exceptional event turn out 0.10 1.0 to unique for the Mediterranean, or will 0.05 0.5 0.00 0.0 C. taylorii blooms occur in future 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 years? Will this species enlarge its MPA-TCC NP-LM MPA-TCC NP-LM presence? Will it be a nuisance again? Will it affect the benthic habitat and Fig. 2. Environmental data of the two areas sampled. impact local biodiversity? Is C. taylorii an allochthonous species introduced into voluntary Italian researchers for tubes (Photo 2a). Within the mucilage the Mediterranean by human activities? investigation of Harmful Benthic Algae there were many microscopic If yes, what was the vector? When did Blooms. organisms but the most abundant was it happen? From which geographical Samplings were carried out at 5 C. taylorii (Photo 2b). The cells of this area does it come from?...and many stations in the PMA-TCC on the 8th of species are peculiar with a really others! August and at 3 stations in NP- LM on “unusual” aspect, as already pointed out the 22nd of August (Fig. 1). Water [8-9]. The identification was not easy Aknowledgements samples were collected for routine because this species is typical of coral To the Directors and personnel of analyses (pH, salinity and chlorophyll a reefs and its presence in the MPA-TCC and NP-LM for their [6]; nutrients [7] and for phytoplankton was not expected. interests, photos and logistic support. and benthic studies. Floating In fact, its distribution is reported in the To Prof. Sartoni and Dr. Boddi for their and substrate samples of mucilage were tropical and subtropical Atlantic, kind collaboration. To Maria Grazia also collected and fixed with both Western Pacific, Micronesia and Giacobbe and Carmelo Tomas for their modified Lugol’s solution and neutralized Australian [9-11]. In these areas it is friendly help. formaline (4%). often considered a nuisance species due The field observations revealed a to the copious production of mucilage. References: vast covering of yellow-green-brown Sparrow and Heimann [12] indicated C. 1. Fukaya S & D Honda 2001. J Plant Res 114: mucilage (Photo 1a-b). The taylorii as species in “identity crisis”, 27 2. Giani M et al 2005. Sci Tot Env 353: 1-2 mucilaginous layer was 5-8 cm thick. because of the increase, in the last 10 3. Hoffmann L et al 2000. Bot Mar 43: 223- Large portions came off the substrates years, of strong growth in Australian 231 due to hydrodynamic stress and/or gas waters. 4. Sartoni G et al 1993. Biol Mar Suppl Notiz 1: 31-34 bubbles (evident macroscopically; Photo 1c). Currents in the water column transported the smallest portions; the largest accumulated, forming patches on the surface, also transported by wind and currents (Photo 1d). Temperatures were rather uniform (Fig. 2), but higher in PMA-TCC (up to 25.0 °C) than in NP-LM (between 23.8 °C and 24.5 °C). Salinity ranged from 30.72 to 32.28 psu in PMA-TCC and from 33.78 to 34.01 psu in NP-LM. Nutrient concentrations were fairly low (maxima of 0.20 µM P for total phosphorus and 2.09 µM N for DIN in NP-LM and of 0.17 µM P and 1.26 µM N in PMA-TCC); chlorophyll a values were up to 0.96 mg m-3 in PMA-TCC and 1.11 mg m-3 in NP-LM (Fig. 2). Microscopic analyses of unfixed samples of mucilage showed a layered Photo 2. Unfixed samples collected at NP-LM: layered aspect of the mucilagine with intertwined aspect, as a whole of small layers or cohered stalks having the cells at their end (a and b; bars=100 µm); characteristic shape of cells with their peculiar tubular invagination (c and d; bars=20 µm). 6

• Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic Is expanding to new areas?

Gambierdiscus sp. cells are round to ellipsoidal (Fig. 3), anterior-posteriorly compressed (Fig. 4), with the dorsoventral diameter (DV) and transdiameter (width, W) ranging from 57.12 to 76.16 µm and 52.36 to 78.54 µm, respectively; the DV/W ratio is about 1.02 (±0.07). The apical pore plate (Po) is situated near the center of the epitheca (Fig. 5), but in some cells seems to be displaced towards the Fig. 1. Map indicating (arrows) the locations of Gambierdiscus sp. records (Canary Islands, Spain ventral area (Fig. 6). Since the initial and Crete, Greece). description of G. toxicus [6], five more Gambierdiscus species have been Recent findings of Gambierdiscus area, expanding the distribution of this described: G. belizeanus [7], G. sp. in the Canary Islands, Spain and in “tropical” . In a search for toxic yasumotoi [8], G. pacificus, G. Crete, Greece may indicate spreading benthic dinoflagellates in Tenerife australes and G. polynesiensis [9]. of this genus into new areas. waters on March 2004, Gambierdiscus The biogeographical distribution of sp. was found epiphytically in tide pools. Gambierdiscus species was until In a later survey, it was also found on recently restricted to tropical and sub- drifting in La Gomera waters. tropical areas, specifically in discrete Although the relation between the regions of the Pacific and West Indian ciguatera case and the presence of and the Caribbean Sea [1]. The Gambierdiscus sp. is not proved, it is dinoflagellate striking that both events happened the is considered the primary causative same year, and were reported by two agent of [2], unrelated teams, a medical group and a which is estimated to affect more than group. 25,000 persons per year [3]. The detection of Gambierdiscus sp. Recently, Pérez-Arellano et al. [4] cells on the west coasts of Crete (Fig. reported ciguatera incidents in the 1) in September and October 2007 is Fig. 3. Live Gambierdiscus sp. cell from Crete in apical view (scale bar: 15 µm). Canary Islands (Fig. 1), while Fraga et the first record of the causative agent al. [5] documented the presence of of ciguatera in the Mediterranean Sea. However, Tester et al [10] suggested Gambierdiscus sp. (Fig. 2) in the same Gambierdiscus sp. cells were found the existence of more species, and asked epiphytically on Padina pavonica, “if the G. toxicus description 5. Sartoni G et al 1995. Bot Mar 38: 121-125 Cystoseira sp., Corallina sp. and Jania included multiple species”; this situation 6. Goltermann HL et al 1978. In Methods for sp. in abundance levels up to 9.01 cells/ makes the systematics of physical and chemical analysis of gr fresh weight. The water temperature freshwater. Blackwell Sci Pub, Oxford: 162- Gambierdiscus fluid. The of 167 during that time ranged between 23.8 Gambierdiscus is far from clear as new 7. Strickland JD & TR Parsons 1972. Bull Fish o and 26.1 C, while salinity was about results of molecular and morphological Res Board Can, 310 pp 38.5 psu. 8. Lewis FI & HF Bryan 1941. Amer J Bot 28: studies contradict in part 343-348 those of Chinain et al [9, 11]. 9. Lobban CS et al 1995. Micronesica. 28: 91- 102 In both cases, Canary 10. Taylor WR 1969. Contr Univ Mich Herb 9: Islands and Crete, 125-203 11. Lobban CS & RT Tsuda 2003. Micronesica Gambierdiscus co-occurred 35-36: 54-99 with other epiphytic 12. Sparrow L & K Heimann 2007. Literature dinoflagellates of the genera review, Australian Government: 16-17 , Prorocentrum, A. Lugliè, C. Satta, B. Padedda, S. and , as Pulina & N. Sechi, Department of is usual in ciguatera related Botany & Plant , Sassari assemblages. University, Via Muroni 25, 07100 The occurrence of Sassari, Italy. Fig. 2. SEM picture of Gambierdiscus sp. from the Canary representatives of what was Email: [email protected] Islands (scale bar: 20 µm). 7 once considered a tropical or subtropical dinoflagellate communities on either the genus, like Gambierdiscus, accords Canaries or Crete. Gambierdiscus sp. with suggestions of several researchers was reported in the 1950’s in the Cabo regarding impact on the Verde Islands by Silva [19] under the geographical expansion of tropical name of Goniodoma sp.. Her microalgae [12], and the description is so detailed that there are “tropicalization” of the Mediterranean no doubts that it is Gambierdiscus. As Sea in recent years [13]. This fact, as the Canaries are not so far form the well as the Ostreopsis species range Cabo Verde Islands they could belong expansion in the Mediterranean during to the same population. 2) Are the Greek the last 5-7 years, and their toxicity and Canarian Gambierdiscus related? [14-18], constitute a serious threat to 3) Could Gambierdiscus in the East Fig. 5. Calcofluor-stained Gambierdiscus sp. human health by ciguatera and Mediterranean be the result of an cell from Crete showing Po and 1' plate (scale intoxications. invasion via the Suez Canal (a lessepsian bar: 10 µm). These two new records of immigrant), or through the Strait of Gambierdiscus sp. raise some Gibraltar? If the presence of References: Gambierdiscus in the 1. Lehane L & Lewis RJ 2000. Int J Mediterranean is the result Microbiol 61: 91-125. of a recent introduction, it 2. Yasumoto et al 1977. Bull Jpn Soc Sci Fish 43: 1021-1026. could be a consequence of 3. Lewis RJ 2001. Toxicon 39: 97-106. global warming, expressed 4. Pérez-Arellano JL et al 2005. Emerg Infect in the Mediterranean as an Dis 11: 1981-1982. 5. Fraga S et al 2004. XI Int Conf Harmful increase in sea surface Algae, 14-16 November, Capetown, p. 115. temperatures, especially in 6. Adachi R & Fukuyo Y 1979. Bull Jap Soc the Levantine Basin. The Sci Fish 45: 61-71. 7. Faust MA 1995. J Phycol 31: 996-1003. possible introduction of 8. Holmes MJ 1998. J Phycol 34: 661-668. Gambierdiscus to the East 9. Chinain M et al 1999. J Phycol 35: 1282- 1296. Mediterranean as a likely 10. Tester P et al 2006. 12th Int Conf Harmful consequence of climate Algae, Copenhagen Denmark, p. 290-291. change was discussed a 11. Richlen ML et al 2007. Harmful Algae, doi:10.1016/j.hal.2007.12.020. few months before its 12. Fraga S 2007. 4th European Phycological finding in Crete, at the 4 th Congress, 23-27 July, Oviedo, Spain 2007. European Phycological p41. 13. Bianchi CN 2007. Hydrobiologia 580: 7-21. Congress [12]. 14. Vila M et al 2001. Aquat Microb Ecol 26: To provide answers to 51-60. Fig. 4. Live Gambierdiscus sp. cell from Crete showing these questions, 15. Penna A et al 2005. J Phycol 41: 212-225. anterior-posterior compression (scale bar: 10 µm). 16. Aligizaki K & G Nikolaidis 2006. Harmful morphological, genetic Algae 5: 717-730. sequences and toxicological 17. Monti et al 2007. Mar Pollut Bull 54: 598- 601. questions. 1) Are they really spreading analyses of cultured strains of these 18. Aligizaki K et al 2008. Toxicon 51: 418- to new areas, or were they found Gambierdiscus species are being 427. because they were searched for? To the carried out. 19. Silva E de S 1956. Bull I.F.A.N. Ser A 18: 335-371. best of our knowledge there are no published studies of benthic Harmful Algae News K. Aligizaki & G. Nikolaidis, Previous issues of HAN and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, newsletters of the IOC HAB PO Box 109, Thessaloniki, GR- Programme can be downloaded at 54124, Greece. Email: [email protected] http://ioc.unesco.org/hab/news.htm S. Fraga, Instituto Español de Requests for subscription Oceanografía, Apdo. 1552, E- Subscription to HAN is made by 36200 Vigo, Spain. sending a request with a complete Email: [email protected] address to Ms V. Bonnet: Fig. 6. Calcofluor-stained Gambierdiscus sp. [email protected]. cell from Crete showing Po and 1' plate (scale bar: 10 µm). 8

The Poseidon Adventure Redux – NORCOHAB Cruise in North Sea

Many will remember the original also conducted within the Norwegian historical bloom period of these species Poseidon Adventure, a 1972 disaster Current on the south coast of Norway (especially Alexandrium) based on film (literally and critically!) about a and then along the north coast of information kindly provided by the IMR, capsized passenger ship on her way to Denmark. In addition to primary and Flødivigen, Norway (Einar Dahl) and the the scrap yard, which was pushed to secondary transects, drift stations were FRS Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, her limits by the new owners to save sampled over several days on the Scotland (Eileen Bresnan). Alas cruel on dismantling fees. The more recent Scottish and Danish coasts to obtain time Nature saw fit to initiate and then “Poseidon adventure” reported here as series data within a given water mass. terminate any such blooms prior to our the NORCOHAB P-352 cruise aboard Standard physical oceanographic arrival on the scene. An unusually warm the R.V. Poseidon (Kiel) (Fig.1) highlights a much more successful (and better directed) effort with significant scientific discoveries to her credit. This cruise, endorsed by GEOHAB and under the auspices of the Core Research Project on HABS in Fjords and Coastal Embayments, was undertaken to study the coastal oceanographic processes and mechanisms underlying the dynamics of key toxic bloom species and the biogeographical distribution of their in the water column. Following the prescribed format of GEOHAB research the studies were international, multidisciplinary and comparative with the ultimate aim of modeling dynamics and behaviour. A critical sub-set of target taxa, primarily Fig. 1. The NORCOHAB P-352 research cruise vessel at port-of-call in Arendal, Norway. Alexandrium and other toxic gonyaulacoid dinoflagellates, but also parameters (temperature: º C, salinity: winter-spring transition in 2007 appears

Pseudo-nitzschia and psu, s t ) plus current velocity were to have accelerated the typical bloom species, were selected for special supplemented with biooptical succession and we were left with attention on the basis of their important measurements with multiple profiling mainly grazers and detritivores role in bloom ecology and human health, fluorosensors and various passive optical accompanied by relatively few their likely occurrence in high profilers (for turbidity and diffuse pigmented dinoflagellates and some abundance during the cruise attenuation), including a hyperspectral rather unhealthy diatom chains at most programme, the availability of molecular radiometer. The use of multiple stations around the North Sea perimeter probes and approaches for their fluorosensors of differing wavelengths from early June to early July. detection and identification and their enabled the identification of sub-surface Our working hypothesis was that production of known toxins for on board patches attributable to . bloom dynamics of key toxic species in chemical analysis. Of course we also Although concentrations of the key toxic the North Sea are regulated at least as kept our eyes and minds open to new microalgae were below detection by much by “top down” factors such as information, such as an opportunistic passive optical sensors, the optical data grazing by and as by search for the source of azaspiracid provided a more accurate mapping of “bottom up” factors, including light, toxins, of which more later. the higher turbidity and particle loads temperature and nutrients. Since such The cruise transects were from (including phytoplankton) along the “top down” field studies are grossly Bremerhaven, Germany across Dogger Scottish coast than on the Norwegian under-represented in modelling Bank with detailed sampling initiated coast, presumably due to higher riverine simulations of toxic bloom dynamics, we along the Scottish east coast from the run-off and tidal flux. conducted on board grazing experiments Firth of Forth to the Shetland Islands The timing of the cruise was to quantify grazing losses of (Fig. 2). For comparison, sampling was carefully planned to coincide with the Alexandrium tamarense, caused by 9

effects of grazing on plankton assemblages from various Alexandrium depths in near-real time (i.e. between tamarense when stations). The analytical instrumentation exposed to three provided a gold-mine of information, different allowing us to characterize many species selected from derivatives (of spirolides, yessotoxins, natural communities. /, , Specifically, we okadaic acid/dinophysistoxins, examined the changes azaspiracids) from particulate fractions in cellular PSP toxin from the water column at sub-picomolar content and concentrations. Amazingly, in spite of the transcriptomic rather low concentrations of putative response of A. causative organisms, were tamarense via found at most stations around the microarrays. An perimeter of the North Sea from apparent toxin plankton samples. Such sensitive Fig. 2. Map of the primary and secondary transect stations defense response analytical methods proved crucial to the sampled for HAB organisms and their toxins in association with from A. tamarense dynamics determination of the physical and bioptical parameters in the coastal North Sea. against copepod occurrence and fate of toxins in various grazing varied among components of the planktonic . dominant metazoan and protistan different copepod species, and was grazers. In the absence of natural highest for the largest suspension feeder Alexandrium blooms at high cell Calanus helgolandicus. However, C. concentrations, we added fluorescently helgolandicus also seemed best labelled live A. tamarense cultured cells adapted for feeding on A. tamarense of known toxin content to different size cells and showed the best fitness among fractions of natural grazer populations. the copepods at the end of the incubation 50 µm A strong reduction in abundance of period. labelled cells at stations with high One of the major objectives was to micrograzer abundance showed that A. apply liquid chromatography coupled to Fig. 3. The predatory tintinnid Favella tamarense-specific grazing coefficients a highly sensitive triple-quadrupole mass ehrenbergii with an ingested fluorescently labelled Alexandrium tamarense cell. may be as high as 2 d-1 with almost 80% spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) to identify of total grazing caused by micrograzers and quantify phycotoxins at trace levels One highlight of the Poseidon cruise in the <200 µm fraction (Fig. 3). The throughout the cruise. With this was the on board determination of hypothesis about the importance of equipment on board we were able to azaspiracids in plankton samples, and micrograzers appears to be sustained. respond directly to relevant findings on the subsequent isolation and culture of Other on board grazing experiments the composition and concentration of the causative organism of azaspiracid were conducted to test reciprocal toxin is various size-fractions and poisoning (AZP) (no it is not Protoperidinium!). Of course we were lucky, but following Pasteur’s dictum 1600 that: “in the field of observation, chance

1400 favors only the prepared mind”, this was still a worthy accomplishment. The 1200 proximal source of azaspiracid (AZA)

1000 is a small photosynthetic dinoflagellate of approximately 12 -15 µm long-axis 800 diameter, which was found at stations 600 with high AZA-1 concentrations. The AZA-producing dinoflagellate has now 400 been described morphologically and with AZA-1 [pg/L sea water] 200 reference to molecular phylogenetic analysis for several genes from single 0 cell isolates collected off the Scottish

386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 east coast. The major azaspiracid station number component (AZA-1) was almost 3m 10m ubiquitous in the North Sea, but its abundance varied significantly (Fig. 4). Fig. 4. The concentration of azaspiracid-1 (AZA-1) in the particulate size-fraction 3 – 20 µm In the western North Sea, AZA-1 was collected from two water column depths (3 and 10 m) from stations in the coastal North Sea. 10

• USA First toxic Dinophysis bloom observed in the , USA Dinophysis acuminata enough and/or populations did not persist dinoflagellate that blooms periodically in (, Dinophysiales) is a long enough to result in significant the Gulf and that can cause neurotoxic thecate dinoflagellate that produces intoxication. Consequently, no shellfish poisoning. No K. brevis blooms okadaic acid, the toxin responsible for routine monitoring of Dinophysis or were observed in the region this year, diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). Although toxic blooms of D. acuminata have been a serious problem in Europe [1], relatively few reports of human illness have been linked to DSP in the US [2]. Blooms of D. acuminata have been reported on the US east coast [3, 4], but cell concentrations were not high most abundant along the southern Scottish coast, but further north around the Orkney and Shetland Islands, AZA- 1 was only detected at trace levels. In general, AZA-1 concentrations were higher in the eastern North Sea with highest levels found in the southern Skagerrak. Further NORCOHAB expeditions in the North Sea are planned under the comparative GEOHAB framework. Fig 1. Port Aransas,, on Mustang Island, a barrier island along the coast of central Texas, Following the proof of concept for Gulfof Mexico, USA. integrated operation of chemical analytical instrumentation and biooptical other DSP-related HAB species is but the imaging approach’s flexibility profilers for detection of HABs and their conducted in the US [2]. allowed this unexpected plankton toxins in near-real time, we will continue Now, for the first time, both elevated species to be studied equally well. work on the biogeographical distribution concentrations of D. acuminata and In early February 2008, Dinophysis of toxigenic organisms and their toxins DSP intoxicated shellfish have been cells (1-5 per mL) were detected in relation to food web transfer and detected in US waters, in central Texas through manual inspection of cell chemical ecology of key species in in the western Gulf of Mexico (Fig. 1), images. By late February estimates coastal waters. requiring shellfish beds to be closed to were >100 per mL (Fig. 3). Because harvesting. these levels exceed the typical Reported by A. Cembella with Early warning of this first toxic background level for the genus in this contributions from B. Krock, U. Dinophysis bloom was provided by a region, manual sampling was conducted Tillmann and U. John, AWI students new automated particle imaging system by the Texas Department of State and technicians. Thanks to B. [5]. Imaging FlowCytobot combines Health Services (DSHS) to confirm the Cembella (Optimare AG) and O. video and flow cytometric technology species, toxicity and abundance in Zelinski (Bremehaven Hochschule) to capture images for plankton coastal waters from Port Aransas and co-workers. identification and to measure chlorophyll harbor and adjacent bays. The bloom fluorescence associated with each consisted primarily of D. acuminata Some aspects of the molecular image. From the high resolution images, (Fig. 3), although D. fortii and D. biology were conceptually organisms ranging from 10 to ~100 µm caudata were also present at much supported by the Sixth Framework can be identified, often to genus or even lower abundance. Okadaic acid was EU Project ESTTAL GOCE-CT to species. confirmed in plankton samples collected 2004-511154. The instrument was installed in the 25 February by liquid chromatography/ We thank Captain H. Hansen and pier laboratory at the University of mass spectroscopy. Four days later, the crew of the R.V. Poseidon. Texas-Marine Sciences Institute (Port collection and analysis of shellfish Aransas, TX; Fig. 2) in September 2007, samples showed significant Email: acembella@awi- as part of a NOAA/CICEET project to accumulation of DSP toxins. On 7 bremerhaven.de monitor brevis, another toxic March, the Aransas, Corpus Christi, and 11

the time series have been inspected, manually identified, and then used to train a machine learning algorithm for automated classification, as described in Sosik and Olson [7]. This analysis approach not only provides taxon- specific abundance estimates at times of specific interest, but also permits detailed bloom dynamics to be investigated over extended periods of time (Fig. 3). From this information it will be possible to study aspects of bloom ecology such as initiation and patchiness. This successful event response has demonstrated that continuous and automated methods for monitoring coastal waters can provide real-time detection and early warning of harmful Fig. 2 Imaging FlowCytobot (version 3) as constructed for deployment from the Port Aransas (HAB) events. Pier. Internal view (left) while being configured and aligned in the laboratory, and after enclosure Further development of automated in the pressure housing (right) designed for submersible applications. image classification, involving extraction of image features and supervised Copano Bays were closed to shellfish Texas coast. At the Port Aransas pier, machine learning algorithms, will harvesting, and shellstock harvested on Dinophysis counts from Imaging enhance our ability to monitor the or after 1 March were recalled [6]. FlowCytobot exceeded 20 cell mL-1 abundance of individual phytoplankton Timing of this closure and recall of local during most of March, with the taxa at relevant temporal scales for oyster harvests was fortunate as it exception of a few days mid-month HAB prediction. allowed organizers of a scheduled when counts decreased to <1 cell mL-1 Oyster Festival – an annual community (Fig. 3). Imaging FlowCytobot sampling Acknowledgements event that typically attracts 30,000 shows that the bloom is continuing in We thank E. Buskey, C. Hyatt and people—to purchase oysters from April and the 3 bays remain closed to the Mission-Aransas NERR program, elsewhere. shellfish harvesting. T. A. Villareal, K. Wiles and Texas Monitoring by Texas DSHS Because Imaging FlowCytbot has DSHS for additional sampling and cell continued throughout March in the Port collected over 31 million images at the counts. Aransas region. During this time, Port Aransas pier since 1 January 2008, observed Dinophysis concentrations automated image analysis and References: remained >5 cells mL-1 in Aransas and classification is essential for application 1. Viviani R 1992. Sci Total Environ Suppl: Copano Bays, but the bloom did not to taxon-specific bloom detection. A 631-662 2. FAO 2004. Marine Biotoxins, FAO Food and appear to impact other regions of the preliminary set of images selected from Nutrition Paper 80, Rome. 3. Maranda L. & Y Shimizu 1987. 10: 298-302 4. Tango P et al 2004. In Steidinger K et al Harmful Algae 2002, IOC of UNESCO: 358- 360. 5. Olson RJ & HM Sosik 2007. Limnol Oceanogr Methods 5: 195-203 6. http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/ shellfish03_08.html 7. Sosik HM & RJ Olson 2007. Limnol Oceanogr Methods 5: 204-216 L. Campbell, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. Email: lcampbell@.tamu.edu R.J. Olson & H.M. Sosik, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA. Fig. 3. Preliminary time series of Dinophysis abundance at the Port Aransas pier from automated analysis and classification of images collected by Imaging FlowCytobot. DSHS counts from conventional microscopic analysis are shown for comparison. Inset: 12

• “Green tide” of Noctiluca miliaris in the Northern Arabian Sea 24 On the west coast of India, 600 µm in diameter. Noctiluca Saurashtra coast discoloured water events caused by a density was 4x 106 cells m-3 in 23 ) 22 1 2 N variety of organisms and sometimes bloom stations. Noctiluca (

e A associated with mass mortality of local miliaris was found along with d 21 R

u 3 t A i

t B INDIA

a marine fauna, have frequently been 19 other species of 20 I L A N

reported [1-7]. phytoplankton, which included S 19 E A During an oceanographic cruise nine species of diatoms 18 onboard FORV Sagar Sampada in the (Chaetoceros brevis, C. 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 second week of March 2007, an intense didymus, digito- Longitude (E) green colouration accompanied by soup radiata, N. elegans, N. lyra, Fig. 1. Map of study area. like consistency was observed in the Rhizosolenia alata, R. hebetata, R. biomass was very high upper layers of Northern Arabian Sea. imbricata, Thalassionema at the bloom stations (6090 ml 1000 m-3 The phenomenon in its full intensity with nitzschioides) and ten species of and 7790 ml 1000 m-3) compared with intermittent patches were found to be dinoflagellates ( , C. the non-bloom station (985 ml 1000 m-3). spread over an area of around 30 km2. trichoceros, C. vultur, Diplopeltopsis Copepoda, , Cladocera, The physical and chemical minor, Diplopsalis lenticula, fish eggs, Amphipoda, Heteropoda, characteristics of two stations were Prorocentrum micans, Lucifer, Oikopleura, salps, doliolids, sampled along with a non-blooming Protoperidinium obovatum, P. and siphonophores were abundant. region. The location of the blooming oceanicum, P. pyriforme, P. steneii). Surveys in this area during the last area was in Lat. 21º 50’ 32 N, Long. Among the diatoms, Rhizosolenia seven years have shown that Noctiluca 66º 09’ 38 E and Lat. 21º 50’ 63 N, Long. formed the major constituent. Co- blooms in the Northern Arabian Sea 67º 03’ 55 E, and that of the non-bloom occurrence of Noctiluca miliaris and every year during this period. The region was in Lat. 21º 00’ 33 N, Long. Rhizosolenia spp. has been reported regular occurrence of the bloom in the 65º 01’ 21 E. The bloom organism was previously [8]. same area, the role of wind in nutrient Noctiluca miliaris Suriray, a Dissolved oxygen values ranged enrichment, and the role of the symbiont nonphotosynthetic, heterotrophic and between 4.96 and 5.09 ml L-1. Inorganic Pedinomonas noctilucae in Noctiluca phagotrophic dinoflagellate. was below the detection limit, blooms need detailed investigations. Innumerable motile prasinophyte presumably due to consumption by the endosymbionts (Pedinomonas bloom species. values were References: noctilucae (Subr.) Sweeney) were higher and might be due to the presence 1. Devassy VP & Sreekumaran Nir SR 1987. Mahasagar- Bull Nat Inst Oceanography, found within the Noctiluca cells giving of Noctiluca. Prasad and Jayaraman 121-128 the deep green hue to the surface [9] reported a similar trend in nitrate 2. Prasad RR & Jayaraman R 1954. Proc Ind waters. concentration during Noctiluca Acad Sci 40B: 49-57 3. Rajesh KM et al 2002. INFOFISH Int 1: Water samples were analysed for swarming. The relatively high 60-64 pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), chlorophyll chlorophyll a value at the bloom stations 4. Satish Sahayak et al 2005. Curr Sci 89 -3 5. Mohanty AK et al 2007. Curr Sci 93 a and nutrients according to Parson et (21.9 and 21.3 mg m ) compared to the 6. Naqvi SWA et al 1998. Curr Sci 75: 543-544 al (Table 1). The CTD profiler recorded non-bloom station (0.97 mg m-3) is due 7. Dharani G et al 2004. Curr Sci 87 temperature and salinity. Phytoplankton to the associated with 8. Katti RJ 1988. Curr Sci 57 9. Eashwar M et al 2001. Curr Sci 81 samples preserved in 1-3% neutralised Noctiluca. Relatively stable low 10. Parson TR et al 1984. A Manual of formalin were used for qualitative and temperature, high salinity, calm sea and Chemical and Biological Methods for quantitative analysis. muggy weather are known to favour Seawater Analysis (Pergamon) Cells have a size range from 200- proliferation and blooming of Noctiluca. K.B. Padmakumar1, M.G. Table 1. nd* - not detectable Sanilkumar1, A.V. Saramma1, V.N. Noctiluca bloom Non bloom region Sanjeevan2 & N.R. Menon2 Parameter stations Station 3 1 Station 1 Station 2 Cochin University, Kochi, Kerala, Temperature (ºC) 25.71 25.56 26.01 India. Salinity (ppt) 35.96 35.98 36 pH 8.33 8.31 8.36 2Centre for Marine Living Dissolved oxygen (ml l-1) 4.96 5.09 5.38 Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Nitrate (µmol l-1) 4.735 5.038 1.678 Kochi, Kerala,India. Phosphate (µmol l-1) nd* nd nd Silicate (µmol l-1) 0.201 0.015 1.602 Email: [email protected] Chlorophyll a (mg m-3) 21.9 21.3 1.24 Cell count (Cells m-3) 4x 106 Noctiluca miliaris absent 13

Haptophyta. This is much more coherent current view of phylogeny could Book review but make things a little more difficult for have been useful to illustrate the fact Throndsen J, Hasle GR and Tangen novices. The taxonomy is really up to that phytoplankton is highly diverse and K 2007. Phytoplankton of Norwegian date as recently established groups such spread over many protist groups. Also Coastal Waters (Almater Forlag AS, as Pinguiophyceae are mentioned, even it would seem more logical to place Olso) 343 pages, b&w illustrations, though they do not contain any genera upfront methodological considerations photos, color plates, soft cover. reported for Norwegian waters. Even concerning plankton sampling and Price £ 96 at www.nhbs.com/ species that have been described after plankton preparation for microscopy, title.php?tefno=157807. Also available the publication of the Norwegian edition instead of sending them to the end of from Balogh International (e.g. the Dictyochophyceae the book. Concerning the material (www.balogh.com/~balogh) for $ 205. Verrucophora farcimen) have been covered by the book, the inclusion of ISBN (13) 978 82-7858-086-8. included in the English version. some heterotrophic groups such as A few years ago, on a visit to Oslo, For each major algal class, a or could be Jahn Throndsen showed me a book to compact introduction is provided questioned. Obviously, they are often which he contributed: “Norsk summarizing the systematics of the present in phytoplankton samples and Kystplankton Flora”. I marveled at the the book will help people to identify them. wonderful drawings of phytoplankton it However since the coverage of these contained. A year later, on a visit to groups is much less exhaustive than that Roscoff, Jahn pulled out a copy and of the photosynthetic groups, it may offered it to me, autographed. I was induce some readers to downplay their thrilled, but at the same time frustrated actual diversity or to wrongly identify because Norwegian does not make some species. Finally there are a few easy reading, at least for me. I was new minor errors or omissions. For wondering whether this book would example p.12, the Prochlorophyta someday be translated into English. This (cyanobacteria containing chlorophyll b) is now done and the result is outstanding. have been known for quite a while to This book is limited to the be polyphyletic, all genera are in fact phytoplankton of coastal waters around bona fide cyanobacteria, and Norway but still should be extremely Prochlorophyta are best forgotten. Also useful for European readers since Telonema (p. 279) is no longer incertae Norwegian coasts are influenced by sedis but belongs to a new called quite different water masses including Telonemia. , Atlantic, and Baltic ones. Still, I think all plankton taxonomists as Jahn Throndsen cautions in his should be very grateful to Grete Hassle, introduction, “users abroad (should) be Karl Tangen and Jahn Thondsen for especially careful when identifying the having offered to the scientific species and seek comparison and advice community and beyond, this compilation from local floras and other taxonomical class, the cell morphology and the resulting from the many years they spent publications”. specialized nomenclature (for example looking under the microscope, taking Those familiar with the book plate patterns for dinoflagellates); A pictures and making these wonderful “Identifying Marine Phytoplankton” general key follows for the class. Each drawings. If phytoplankton taxonomists (IMP) coordinated by Carmelo Tomas, species is then described and illustrated probably currently one of the most used by at least one drawing and sometimes taxonomical reference for by a microscopy picture. Information on phytoplankton, will feel at home, since the species habitat in Norwegian coastal PHYCOTOXINS the three authors of the present book waters is also provided. For many You can also get news on were also major contributors to IMP. genera, detailed keys are also provided. HAB research and events at the The book is organized along division and This organization (i.e. description and Phycotoxins-list at the internet. classes with major sections dealing with illustration grouped together) is in fact The address of this list is: dinoflagellates, diatoms and more handy that the one used in IMP [email protected] coccolithophorids. However, while in where illustrations are organized in plates To join the list, send IMP, flagellates are grouped together at resulting in physical separation between “subscribe phycotoxins” to: the end of the book, here they are the species descriptions and drawings, [email protected] grouped according to divisions. For forcing the reader to move back and Archives are located at example, Chrysophyceae are treated forth between the pages of the book. www.agr.ca/archives/ next to diatoms in division As with all productions, there are of phycotoxins.html Hetorokontophyta and Pavlophyceae course a few things that could be next to coccolithophorids in division improved. A short presentation of the 14 FAO-SIDA-UNESCO-MIRCEN International Workshop on Shellfish Safety from Harmful Algae and Biotoxins Harmful algal blooms and shellfish toxicity are a global problem affecting shellfish safety and international trade. It is estimated that about 2000 cases of shellfish toxicity occur annually with 15% mortality. The economic impact of this problem has been estimated to be US$ 82 million in United States alone. In south and south-east Asia, there have been several reports of fish kills and shellfish poisoning. India had two recorded outbreaks of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and toxin involved in diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) has been detected in shellfish in India. Malaysia, Indonesia and China have experienced outbreaks of PSP. However, the dinoflagellate species involved in toxic episodes vary in the region. Bivalve production by from aquaculture. China is emerging as algae and their cysts; biotoxins and their aquaculture has been growing and in a major producer of bivalves; China detection by bioassay, immunoassay, 2005, 84% of bivalve production came presently accounts for 80% of world HPLC and liquid chromatography mass bivalve production by aquaculture. To spectrometer (LC-MS) techniques, and ensure the safety of shellfish, it is monitoring as a component of integrated important to have monitoring shellfish safety management. The from other countries (and I am thinking programmes for harmful algae and workshop included 23 participants from here of my own country, France) had biotoxins. However, a major concern Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, left similar legacies, our field would be has been the expertise required to China, Morocco, Yemen, Sweden and much richer. One would only wish that identify the small proportion of toxic India. The faculty for the workshop all this information soon becomes species in water samples. Technology included Dr. Y. Fukuyo from University available on the Internet either through for detection of biotoxins has been of Tokyo, Japan, Dr. J. Larsen, IOC a dedicated website or even better undergoing rapid developments with Center on Harmful Algae, Copenhagen, through collaborative initiatives such as improvements in analytical capability. Denmark, Dr. Dave Clarke from Plankton*Net (e.g. planktonnet.sb- Sophisticated analytical procedures such Marine Institute, Galway, Ireland, Dr. roscoff.fr) or the Encyclopedia of as Liquid Chromatography with tandem Iddya Karunasagar from FAO, Rome, (www.eol.org). Such dissemination mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) and Dr. Ann-Sofi Rehnstam-Holm and Dr. would probably not hurt book sales since immunoassays are being applied for Anna Godhe from Sweden, Dr. Indrani people who can afford it would want to toxin detection. Karunasagar and Dr. B.B. Nayak from buy a hard copy, but would help many Considering the global importance of India. The sessions were highly field taxonomists throughout the world the problem and the need for capacity interactive and the Workshop material who may have little access to books. building in this area, an International included Manuals and CDs. In addition In conclusion, although I have not workshop on “Safety of Shellfish from to lectures and practical sessions, the yet used this book myself to practice Harmful Algae and Biotoxins” was held programme included presentation of the phytoplankton identification, I am deeply at the UNESCO Microbial Resources status of work on harmful algae and convinced that this book is soon going Center (MIRCEN), College of biotoxins in the countries represented in to be sitting next to numerous Fisheries, Mangalore, India from the workshop. Experiences from 10 microscopes (and probably often January 21 to 25, 2008. Dr. Indrani countries were presented. stolen…) along with IMP, and I can only Karunasagar was the Workshop highly recommend purchasing it. Coordinator. The workshop was jointly I. Karunasagar, Food and Agriculture Organisation – FAO, D. Vaulot, Station Biologique de sponsored by FAO, Swedish Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Roscoff, UPMC et CNRS, UMR International Development Agency 00153 - Rome, Italy. 7144, Place Georges Tessier, 29682 (SIDA) and UNESCO MIRCEN. The Email: [email protected] Roscoff Cx, France. workshop included lectures and practical Email: [email protected] sessions on identification of harmful 15 Towards measuring mucus events Are aquatic “mucus”, “slime” and • The pelagophycean Chrysophaeum mucus are extremely valuable, but were “froth” events, like harmful algal blooms taylorii was found in 2007 investing sufficient training in marine rheology [1], increasing worldwide in both extent substrates of rock, sand and seagrass methods available to teams working on and intensity? The last six numbers of on the NE coast of Sardinia, with a HABs, we might see comparable Harmful Algae News (HAN) Nos. 31- yellow-green-brown mucilaginous advances in understanding HAB 36 (2006-2008), report the following cover up to 5-8 cm thick. Bubbles dynamics. To this end, I propose that a mucus events: formed in this cover and caused it to Working Group on marine mucus • “Cream or beige coloured foam” float up to the surface, producing visible properties be set up. This will be produced by Alexandrium monilatum patches. It was sufficiently abundant particularly focussed on algal blooms, in Costa Rica [2]; to alarm tourists and local people. [10]; as it is where algae are most • “Abundant foam forming stripes • In the Sea of Marmara, Turkey, from concentrated that they have most parallel to the coast” in a bloom of December 2007 to March 2008, white potential to thicken the water. Anyone Chattonella marina and C. cf. ovata mucilaginous aggregates were noticed interested is welcome to contact the in the Gulf of California, Mexico [3]; near the surface. SCUBA divers then author directly, Esther at the XV th • Three reports of benthic, pelagic and found that similar mats also occurred International Conference on Rheology, neustonic occurrences of polymer on the bottom, covering benthos [11]. Monterey, USA, or the 13th International matrices apparently produced by This phenomenon, newly reported for Conference on Harmful Algae, Hong Ostreopsis ova as well as O. cf. the area, was compared to that of “mare Kong, November 3-7 2008. siamensis in the Mediterranean. sporco” that has occurred sporadically Cogestri et al. [4], showed mucilage for centuries in the Northern Adriatic References: flocs and cells detaching from the [12]. 1. Hallegraeff GM 2003. In Manual on Harmful Marine Microalgae, Hallegraeff substrate and floating in the water, while These reports of mucous events GM et al (eds) Unesco, Paris 25-49 Totti et al [5] found O. ova to produce linked to algal blooms are of course only 2. Calvo R et al 2005. HAN 35: 1-2 a brown -like mat, shown by a tiny proportion of the literature. Much 3. Cortés-Altamirano R et al 2006. HAN 31: 7 8 scanning electron microscopy to consist more exists on this subject, and still more 4. Cogestri R et al 2006. HAN 32: 11-12 of a matrix of fibrils, covering rocks, on the properties of small mucous 5. Totti C et al 2007. HAN 33: 12-13 6. Barone, R. 2007. HAN 33: 1-3 and mollusc shells. Barone [6], particles, including transparent 7. Sampedro L et al 2007. HAN 33: 10-11 furthermore, demonstrated that O. ova exopolymeric particles (TEP) and 8. Magana-Arachchi DN et al 2007. HAN 33: cells use this network, to entangle and marine and lake snow [13] as well as 9-10 9. Padmakumar KB 2008. HAN 36: 12 trap prey, rather like spiders use their models of their flocculation and break- 10. Lugliè A et al 2008. HAN 36: 4-6 webs except that, unlike spiders, they up [14-16]. 11. Aktan Y et al 2008. HAN 36: 1-3 do it collectively. These webs may also Progress has been better in 12. Flander-Putrle V & A Malej Harmful Algae (in press) entrap potential predators, thus understanding and measuring the 13. Passow U 2002. Prog Oceanogr 55: 287 protecting their creators; mechanical properties of the air-water 333 14. Kiørboe T & J Hansen 1993. J Plankton • Along a 65-km stretch of the coast of surface through 2-dimensional (2D) Res 15: 993-1018 NE Spain large patches of floating shearing [17], and more particularly 15. Jackson GA & T Kiørboe 2008. Limnol green-brownish mucus were reported during 2D compression-dilation cycles, Oceanogr 53: 295-399 16. Engel A et al 2004. Nature 438: 929-932 [7]. Dominant organisms in the mucus accompanied by electrochemical 17. Kuhnhenn V et al 2006. Colloids Surf B included Gonyaulax fragilis and measurements showing how the Biointerfaces 47: 29-35 Pseudo-nitzschia, but since G. fragilis molecules restructure and exchange 18. Williams PM et al 1986. Mar Chem 19: 17 98 was shown to secrete mucoid material with the bulk phase [18, 19]. 19. Pogorzelski SJ & AD Kogut 2001. from its apical pore, it seems likely that Yet it is in the bulk phase of the Oceanologia 43: 223-246 20. Jenkinson IR 1986. Nature 323: 435-437 this species may be the origin; medium, where changes in the 21. Jenkinson IR & BA Biddanda 1995. J • In a report on aeruginosa mechanical properties of the water are Plankton Res 17: 2251-2274 in a city in Colombo, Sri Lanka, likely to impact plankton ecology most. 22. Jenkinson IR et al 2007. HAN 35: 1-5 23. Seuront L et al 2007. Biogeochemistry 83: it is pointed out the species may form Progress in this field is slow both at 173-188 thick layers or mats at the water surface scales of mm to cm [20-23], and, using 24. Svetlièiæ V et al 2006. Croatica Chemica [8], underlining the inevitability that at atomic force microscopy at those of Acta 79: 107-113 25. Stuart J & MW Kenny 1980. J clin Path surface algal and cyanobacterial blooms polymer molecules [24], and little 33: 417-429 to some extent control air-water fluxes. understood by many HAB research There are three examples in the present teams. I.R. Jenkinson, Agency for issue: Like marine algal slime, blood too Consultation and Research in • “Soup-like consistency” in green is thicker than water, and huge Oceanography, 19320 La Roche Noctiluca blooms covering around 30 advances were already being made Canillac, France. 2 km , in the Arabian Sea, off NW India nearly 30 years ago in the rheology of Email: [email protected] [9]; blood [25]. Qualitative descriptions of 16

Reflections from the GEOHAB Scientific Steering Committee: Ocean Colour Remote Sensing and Harmful Algal Blooms: a Rush of Blood? Development and application of However, there are still fundamental of ocean colour variability means that optical sensors and remote sensing is problems with the application of rigorous the various techniques typically central to many marine research ocean colour techniques in optically employed to derive HAB products are programmes, agencies and activities. complex coastal waters. The ocean at best ambiguous. GEOHAB addresses development of colour and harmful algal bloom scientific There are five broad techniques improved remote observation systems communities would gain a great deal by employed with regard to HAB or for harmful algae, and activities have identifying and addressing these phytoplankton assemblage type included a science workshop on real time problems, rather than prematurely detection: observation systems for harmful algae adopting under-developed techniques. 1. Bright water is historically often used and publication (early 2008) of an Ocean colour radiometry has to discriminate non-harmful UNESCO monograph on oceanographic several fundamental steps: Radiance is blooms and can be used methodology entitled ‘Real-time Coastal measured at the top of the atmosphere; for operational, i.e. non-quantifiable, Observing Systems for Marine to get the oceanic signal the atmospheric detection of abnormally high turbidity Ecosystem Dynamics and Harmful signal has to be removed (typically waters that can circumstantially be Algal Blooms: Theory, Instrumentation accounting for more than 80% of the associated with given groups such as and Modelling’ edited by Marcel Babin, total signal). The derivation of harmful cyanobacteria (e.g. Nodularia Collin Roesler and John Cullen. A critical geophysical parameters such as spumigena in the ). role of these activities is to identify gaps chlorophyll a concentrations from this 2. Discrimination based on spectral in knowledge, and to stimulate corrected signal, uses various empirical signature of targeted phytoplankton development and improved application or analytical algorithms. Further species or groups is successful for a of relevant techniques. ecologically meaningful products, such small number of cases e.g. Ocean colour remote sensing offers as anomalies, can then be calculated. cyanobacterial blooms containing the considerable potential for the In the HAB-prone coastal zone, all of spectrally distinctive phycocyanin observation of harmful algal blooms these steps suffer from considerable pigment (see Figure 1). (HABs); such potential remains largely uncertainty. Atmospheric correction 3. Several approaches based on unfulfilled due to the sizeable schemes considered suitable for the chlorophyll anomalies relative to uncertainties associated with open ocean often perform poorly in climatologies have been proposed as a applications in the coastal zone. Recent turbid, atmospherically complex coastal means to raise warning of possible high studies suggest that space-based ocean waters where a lack of suitable biomass HAB events. While colour sensors allow the routine coastal validation data hampers our ability to operationally promising to some extent, detection of high biomass phytoplankton analyse and improve these vital those approaches are subject to blooms, or the identification of procedures. In addition, an incomplete ambiguities caused by the anomalies phytoplankton functional types. understanding of the underlying causes being partially or wholly due to variability

Fig. 1. Spatial distribution of the phycocyanin pigment in the Netherlands eutrophic Lake IJsselmeer (courtesy of Stefan Simis). Phycocyanin is associated with the presence of cyanobacteria such as Aphanizomenon flos-aqua and Microcystis sp. Those results were obained using the algorithm from Simis et al. (2007) applied to imagery from the European sensor MERIS (Full resolution), collected over three days during the July 2006 heatwave. This short time series illustrates the potential of ocean colour remote sensing for monitoring with great spatial detail the temporal evolution of highly dynamic phytoplankton blooms. Reference: S.G.H. Simis, et al., Remote Sensing of Environment 2007, 106: 414-427. 17 in atmospheric properties, dissolved is limited by a lack of routine particle product uncertainty and the definition of organic colour, or non-chlorophyllous size observations. There is therefore a minimum acceptable performance particles. As illustrated in Figure 2, the need for the ocean colour community levels. Ocean colour techniques that do use of ocean colour to detect to engage constructively with the not outline plausible causal mechanisms phytoplankton is often, in coastal waters, phycological community, to adopt less may be of regional operational value, but limited by the fact that other seawater ambiguous routine means of identifying are unlikely to be useful across a variety constituents (e.g. coloured dissolved phytoplankton community structure, e.g. marine ecosystems, and are therefore organic matter) are present in such high traditional cell counts, flow cytometry, of limited value in advancing our quantities that they simply hide any other genetic techniques, or cell sizing understanding and global observation of constituents. Other approaches techniques if it is to pursue HAB or HABs as ecologically prominent alternative to the use of the blue and phytoplankton functional type research phenomena. The greater involvement of green part of the reflectance spectrum in an ultimately meaningful way. multi-disciplinary scientific communities may allow circumventing this problem. is extremely important – most notably 4. Analytical algorithms, based upon HAB phycologists and oceanographers, inverse optical modelling of water in addition to ecophysiological modelers, column constituents, are promising as who have specific and theoretically alternatives to standard geophysical demanding requirements with regard to algorithms but also suffer from poor error analyses. The challenge is to give atmospheric correction, and an these distinct scientific communities incomplete understanding and some degree of ownership of ocean parameterisation of the variable optical colour products as experimentalists. properties of phytoplankton and other Considerable gains can be made from water constituents. better understanding mechanisms 5. The use of anomalies in the underlying variability in the red portion reflectance spectrum has recently been of the ocean colour spectrum, most proposed to distinguish broad sensitive to phytoplankton phytoplankton groups, based primarily backscattering at high biomass as on statistical relationships with Fig. 2. Spectra of the water-leaving reflectance demonstrated by research in hyper- chemotaxonomic data derived from calculated using a radiative transfer code trophic freshwater systems. Red High Performance Liquid (Hydrolight 4.2) and optical properties for wavelengths may also yield valuable Chromatography (HPLC) pigment coloured dissolved organic matter and information on physiology and suspended non-algal particles typical of the measurements. However, recent studies Baltic Sea. Two different concentrations of phytoplankton functional type through suggest that the variability in the chlorophyll a were used to set the optical sun-induced fluorescence, currently reflectance targeted by such algorithms properties of phytoplankton. Note that the two measured by several ocean colour is primarily associated with the varying spectra were normalized to their respective sensors but remaining very much an area under the curve. This figure illustrates the concentration of non-algal constituents fact that increasing the amount of underexploited phenomenon. However, and that such methods are not robust. phytoplankton by an order of magnitude in the starting point almost certainly lies not Aside from atmospherically-related such coastal water has only subtle effects on only in the ocean, but in the ocean- problems with absolute radiometric the shape of the reflectance spectrum in the atmosphere system: validation and measurements, many of the problems blue and green domains. It has, however, a improvement of the atmospheric very significant impact on reflectance in the red lie in the fundamental question of part of the spectrum where chlorophyll a correction across a variety of coastal identifying phytoplankton groups or fluorescence stimulated by sunlight can be regions is critical. species, and whether such groups can readily observed (peak centred around be distinguished using ocean colour. For 683 nm). example, HPLC pigment methods are S. Bernard, ’s Council of Scientific & Industrial Research potentially a very precise means of The way forward measuring phytoplankton pigment (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa. The way forward lies in a suite of concentrations, but variations in Email: [email protected] measures: true validation rather than accessory pigmentation are often only rationalisation of results as plausible; M. Babin, Laboratoire a minor source of ocean colour sensitivity studies exploring the causal d'Océanographie de Villefranche, variability, and the chemotaxonomic influences and assemblage detection Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. interpretation of HPLC data can often limits across a wide variety of water Email: [email protected] be ambiguous. Allometric or size based types; a drive to put confidence limits ocean colour techniques also show I. Allen, Plymouth Marine on ocean colour products from a regional promise, but whilst phytoplankton size Laboratory, Plymouth, UK. perspective. Consequently there is a variability across marine systems is Email: [email protected] requirement for a skill assessment characterised to some degree, our ability strategy for ocean colour products which to translate this into useful information requires both the quantification of 18 19

GEOHAB developments ISSHA President’s Five new people were welcomed nitrogen additions in the sea, following onto the Scientific Steering Committee a proposal to dump large amounts of Corner (SSC) of GEOHAB by chairman Robin in the Sulu Sea (Glibert et al. 2008 Raine (Ireland) at the recent SSC Bulletin, doi 10.1016/ Exciting things are happening. We meeting in Annapolis, USA between 9- j.marpolbul.2008.03.010. The SSC are less than 6 months away from the 11 April 2008. Elisa Berdalet (Spain), were delighted to learn that the 13th International Conference on Suzanne Roy (Canada) and Icarus Allen government of the Phillipines had Harmful Algae 3-7 November 2008 in (UK) now act as liaison between the refused permission for this activity. and there are a number of SSC and the GEOHAB Core Research GEOHAB has issued a statement on very busy local and international Projects on Stratified Systems, Coastal this activity which is posted on the organizing committee members making Bays and Fjords, and Eutrophic Systems website (www.geohab.info). preparations. respectively. Stewart Bernard (South Robert Magnien and Quay Dortsch ISSHA Auction Africa, remote observations) and Liam (NOAA) were among agency Fernand (UK, physical oceanography) representatives who were invited to the Plans for the ISSHA Auction are will participate on a Task Team on SSC meeting for a briefing on US HAB underway. We are soliciting items for Observations through which formal links programs. An evening outreach session the ISSHA Auction. If you can between GEOHAB and GOOS can be was also organised by Pat Glibert (Horn recommend a vendor you would like established. This team, led by Bengt Point, MD, USA) at the Chesapeake ISSHA to contact for a contribution, Karlson (Sweden), will initially update Bay Program Office in Annapolis please send me contact information. the IOC-IPHAB-GEOHAB Maryland where four presentations on Also, be thinking about you might bring recommendations for real time HAB GEOHAB were made followed by a to the Auction. I know that Allan observation systems, and make small reception. Cembella will have the now famous recommendations regarding HAB- Further points under discussion at - Mote Sunglasses observations in the ChloroGIN (http:// included arrangements for a workshop Case back to see if he can recover his chlorogin.org/contact.php) pilot areas on modelling the biophysical interactions investment. Books, reprints and prints among other activities. relevant to the promotion of HAB events are always popular items and they travel Discussion on progress in regional is being organised by the GEOHAB well. See you at the ISSHA Auction in research focused on the success of the SSC and will be held in summer 2009. November! nd 2 GEOHAB Asia meeting, organised The formal announcement for this will Awards by Ken Furuya (Japan) and hosted at be in June 2008. the Vietnamese Institute of Just a reminder that by 1 June 2008 Oceanography in Nha Trang by Nguyen Robin Raine, Chair of the GEOHAB Lifetime Achievement Award and Ngoc Lam. At this meeting, and Scientific Steering Committee. Young Scientist Award Nominations subsequently, a document was developed Email: [email protected] should be sent by e-mail to Marina on the likely effects of large scale Montresor ([email protected]), Chair of the Committee on Achievement Awards. Officer and Council Nominations These nomination are due on 3 July 2008. Dr. Karen Steidinger has agreed to help vet the nominations. Please submit candidates to her at [email protected]. You may also send nomination to the ISSHA Secretary, Dr. Tracy Villareal at [email protected]. Pat Tester, ISSHA President, Email: [email protected] The GEOHAB SSC in front of the Annapolis Synthesis Center of the University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science, Annapolis, USA. 20

Future events

Events in Food Safety, Toxins and Related Areas, AOAC Toxins Task Force 2008:

1) Dallas, Texas Sept 21-24, AOAC Int. Annual Meeting: The 2008 AOAC International Annual Meeting brings together prominent senior-level analytical chemists and microbiologists to present research and share ideas with common scientific interests in the areas of biodefense, agricultural, food, drug, and environmental sciences. There will be an open session of the Marine and Freshwater Toxins Task OCTOBER 2008 Harmful Algal Bloom of South China Force Meeting. Ciguatera and related biotoxins Sea (AoHABSCS). More info at: www.aoac.org/ The conference will address all meetings1/122nd_annual_mtg Nouméa, New Caledonia, 21-31 issues related to the causes and effects October 2008. of marine and freshwater harmful 2) Seattle and Tacoma, Washing- A workshop on the latest microalgae and, to serve as a forum for ton, June 15-20. developments in ciguatera research, the exchange of new research results Rapid Test Kit Workshop, Seattle, WA covering environmental influences, and relevant ideas among researchers, Shoreline Laboratory and Hotel Nexus, causative organisms and socio-economic industry, government and all other June 15-17. and medical aspects. intereseted groups. ELISA and Dipstick Tests for Deadlines: Important dates: Natural Toxins, Vet. Residues & · Submission of abstract: 1st June. · Abstract submission deadline: 1st June. Allergens - Including lectures and · Early registration: 1st June. · Early registration: before 1st June. extensive hands-on experience, kits from · Late registration: 15th September. · Late registration: 1st June - 15th Sept. st several vendors, this session in · Submission of full papers: 31 · Deadline for Submission of Full Papers: association with Pacific NW AOAC December. 31st December. Annual Meeting. Spots are available on For additional information: More info at: www.hab2008.hk limited basis, so if you are interested in nwww.ird.nc/ciguatera the workshop please contact: [email protected] NOVEMBER 2008 Harmful Algae News th 3) Pacific NW AOAC Annual Mee- The 13 International Conference on Harmful Algae 2008 only exists if the Editor gets ting, Tacoma, WA,June 18 - 19. input from YOU! There will be a specific seminar on Hong Kong - China, 3-7 November Write the Editor NOW with news Marine and Freshwater Toxins. 2008. More info at: www.aoacpacnw.com The International Society for the on your work, HAB events in Study of Harmful Algae (ISSHA) is your country or region, or any pleased to announce that the 13th other matter you wish to share International Conference on Harmful with HAB scientists and manag- Algae will take place in Hong Kong on ers worldwide. Harmful Algae 3-7 November, 2008. Supporting News has more than 2000 organizations include School of Science subscribers. & Technology, the Open University of Hong Kong and the Association of

HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS

Compiled and edited by Tim Wyatt, Instituto de Investigacio- The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors Project Coordinator: Henrik Enevoldsen, nes Marinas, CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain; indicated and do not necessarily reflect the views of IOC Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae, Tel.: +34 986 23 19 30/23 19 73; Fax: +34 986 29 27 62; UNESCO or its IOC. Texts may be freely reproduced and University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2D, DK- E-mail: [email protected] and Mónica Lion, Centro translated (except when reproduction or translation rights 1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark Tel.: +45 33 13 44 46; Científico y de Comunicación sobre Algas Nocivas COI- are indicated as reserved), provided that mention is made of Fax.: +45 33 13 44 47, IEO, Apdo. 1552, 36200 Vigo, Spain; Tel.: +34 986 49 21 the author and source and a copy sent to the Editors. E-mail: [email protected] 11; Fax: +34 986 49 20 03; E-mail: [email protected] ©UNESCO 2008. Printed in France ISSN 0020-7918