Streaming Media

Presentation Abstract

Harmful algal blooms occur seasonally throughout the Salish Sea. By using yearly acquired data, cyst concentration maps can help to predict the likelihood of harmful algal blooms occuring the following year. Alexandrium catenella is one of the monitored toxin-producing dinoflagellate species that potentially cause outbreaks of paralytic shellfish toxins which can contaminate filter-feeding shellfish in Puget Sound. In 2019, Washington’s Department of Ecology’s Puget Sound Marine Monitoring Group collected sediment samples throughout Puget Sound, including a comprehensive collection of sediment samples in Port Gardner, an inlet of Possession Sound not previously studied for harmful algal blooms. These samples were sent to the University of Washington Tacoma to undergo multiple analyses to determine the cyst abundance, grain size, and total organic content of each sampling location. The samples were prepared and examined under an epiflourescent microscope for quantification of the total abundance of A. catenella cysts per sampled station. The average cyst count at all stations was 28 cysts/cc with a range of 0-85 cysts/cc. High cyst counts of Alexandrium indicate the need for further sediment cyst monitoring in this area.

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-271

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)--Port Gardner (Snohomish County); Dinoflagellate blooms--Washington (State)--Port Gardner (Snohomish County); Dinoflagellate cysts--Washington (State)--Port Gardner (Snohomish County); Paralytic shellfish poisoning--Washington (State)--Port Gardner (Snohomish County)

Geographic Coverage

Port Gardner (Snohomish County, 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

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Apr 27th, 4:00 PM Apr 27th, 4:30 PM

The presence of Alexandrium catenella harmful algal bloom cysts in Port Gardner, WA in 2019

Harmful algal blooms occur seasonally throughout the Salish Sea. By using yearly acquired data, cyst concentration maps can help to predict the likelihood of harmful algal blooms occuring the following year. Alexandrium catenella is one of the monitored toxin-producing dinoflagellate species that potentially cause outbreaks of paralytic shellfish toxins which can contaminate filter-feeding shellfish in Puget Sound. In 2019, Washington’s Department of Ecology’s Puget Sound Marine Monitoring Group collected sediment samples throughout Puget Sound, including a comprehensive collection of sediment samples in Port Gardner, an inlet of Possession Sound not previously studied for harmful algal blooms. These samples were sent to the University of Washington Tacoma to undergo multiple analyses to determine the cyst abundance, grain size, and total organic content of each sampling location. The samples were prepared and examined under an epiflourescent microscope for quantification of the total abundance of A. catenella cysts per sampled station. The average cyst count at all stations was 28 cysts/cc with a range of 0-85 cysts/cc. High cyst counts of Alexandrium indicate the need for further sediment cyst monitoring in this area.