Presentation Abstract
The Citizen Science Program was initiated by the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Ocean Networks Canada in 2015. This Program was designed to achieve oceanographic monitoring of the Strait of Georgia on temporal and spatial scale that had never been done before. Samples and measurements were taken at approximately 80 sites on a bi-monthly (or higher) frequency from February to October, 2015 to 2017. This presentation will be focused on the spatial and temporal distribution of harmful algae based on the analysis of about 5000 phytoplankton samples. Preliminary results indicate that during the sampling period in the Strait, there were no significant (>1000 cells per mL) Heterosigma akashiwo blooms. Very high levels of Chaetoceros convolutus/concavicornis were recorded in spring 2015 in northern areas of the Strait. Low and moderate levels of non-skeletal Dictyocha were observed from June to August 2016 and during August 2017 at most of the sampling areas. Further work will include investigating relationships between harmful algae cell densities and environmental variables (nutrients, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, etc.). One of the major goals of the Program is to provide data aiding in assessing the potential effects of harmful algal blooms on the juvenile salmon survival in the Salish Sea.
Session Title
Harmful Phytoplankton in the Salish Sea: Part I
Keywords
phytoplankton, harmful algal blooms, HAB, Heterosigma, Strait of Georgia
Conference Track
SSE5: Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, and Research
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE5-487
Start Date
4-4-2018 2:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2018 2:45 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Algal blooms--Monitoring--Georgia, Strait of (B.C. and Wash.); Pacific salmon--Effect of water quality on--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Water--Sampling--Georgia, Strait of (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Georgia, Strait of (B.C. and Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Harmful algae in the Strait of Georgia, citizen science data
The Citizen Science Program was initiated by the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Ocean Networks Canada in 2015. This Program was designed to achieve oceanographic monitoring of the Strait of Georgia on temporal and spatial scale that had never been done before. Samples and measurements were taken at approximately 80 sites on a bi-monthly (or higher) frequency from February to October, 2015 to 2017. This presentation will be focused on the spatial and temporal distribution of harmful algae based on the analysis of about 5000 phytoplankton samples. Preliminary results indicate that during the sampling period in the Strait, there were no significant (>1000 cells per mL) Heterosigma akashiwo blooms. Very high levels of Chaetoceros convolutus/concavicornis were recorded in spring 2015 in northern areas of the Strait. Low and moderate levels of non-skeletal Dictyocha were observed from June to August 2016 and during August 2017 at most of the sampling areas. Further work will include investigating relationships between harmful algae cell densities and environmental variables (nutrients, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, etc.). One of the major goals of the Program is to provide data aiding in assessing the potential effects of harmful algal blooms on the juvenile salmon survival in the Salish Sea.
