Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
Alexandrium catenella is a dinoflagellate that produces saxitoxin, a powerful neurotoxin, known to bioaccumulate in filter-feeding shellfish. Mammals consuming these shellfish can experience paralytic shellfish poisoning, a severe toxin-induced illness. Alexandrium overwinters in seafloor sediments as a cyst, and in the spring and summer, when environmental conditions are right, these cysts germinate and become vegetative cells within the water column. Identification and enumeration of cysts is used to determine regions where there is a greater potential for these harmful algae to bloom. Since 2013, the University of Washington Tacoma has received sediment from the Department of Ecology’s Puget Sound Marine Sediment Monitoring Group. Surface sediment is collected using a grab sampler in April and May at long-term stations in Puget Sound. Though blooms typically occur in early spring and late summer, sampling in the spring can provide valuable information about the presence of this organism in these well-sampled areas. Researchers at the University of Washington Tacoma analyzed the sediments for the presence of cysts throughout Puget Sound. This presentation will illustrate the cyst distribution in surface sediments from 2013-2021. Data for 2020 is missing since sampling did not occur due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the entire sampling period (2013-2019, & 2021), cyst concentrations in Bellingham Bay were consistently relatively abundant, continuing to mark this area as a bay with high potential for future harmful algal blooms of Alexandrium catenella.
Session Title
Poster Session 3: Land - Water Connections
Conference Track
SSE14: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-posters-264
Start Date
27-4-2022 4:00 PM
End Date
27-4-2022 4:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Alexandrium catenella--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Dinoflagellate blooms--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Dinoflagellate cysts--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Paralytic shellfish poisoning--Washington (State)--Puget Sound
Geographic Coverage
Puget Sound (Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons
Cyst Mapping of Alexandrium catenella in Surface Sediments of Puget Sound from 2013-2021
Alexandrium catenella is a dinoflagellate that produces saxitoxin, a powerful neurotoxin, known to bioaccumulate in filter-feeding shellfish. Mammals consuming these shellfish can experience paralytic shellfish poisoning, a severe toxin-induced illness. Alexandrium overwinters in seafloor sediments as a cyst, and in the spring and summer, when environmental conditions are right, these cysts germinate and become vegetative cells within the water column. Identification and enumeration of cysts is used to determine regions where there is a greater potential for these harmful algae to bloom. Since 2013, the University of Washington Tacoma has received sediment from the Department of Ecology’s Puget Sound Marine Sediment Monitoring Group. Surface sediment is collected using a grab sampler in April and May at long-term stations in Puget Sound. Though blooms typically occur in early spring and late summer, sampling in the spring can provide valuable information about the presence of this organism in these well-sampled areas. Researchers at the University of Washington Tacoma analyzed the sediments for the presence of cysts throughout Puget Sound. This presentation will illustrate the cyst distribution in surface sediments from 2013-2021. Data for 2020 is missing since sampling did not occur due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the entire sampling period (2013-2019, & 2021), cyst concentrations in Bellingham Bay were consistently relatively abundant, continuing to mark this area as a bay with high potential for future harmful algal blooms of Alexandrium catenella.
