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