A National Ocean Service/National Center for Coastal Ocean Science Program
Phytoplankton Monitoring Network
Promoting a better understanding of harmful algal blooms by way of volunteer monitoring
Mystery Plankton:
New Plankton returns in September
During the first week of the month only one piece of the entire plankton picture will be visible. After the first week of the month, the rest of the mystery plankton puzzle will be revealed. Winner will be drawn at the end of the month. Only one entry per month.
Please view the full contest rules.
In The News:
Alternative Energy
A group of Chicago high school students were able to power a VW Vanagon camper for a trip to the Sears Tower and back.
Find out how they did it at jalopnik.com.
Check This Out!
Olympic Algae
An algal bloom is taking place in about one-third of the waters designated for Olympic competition.
To view the article: www.nytimes.com
Check This Out!
Red Tide in Boston Harbor
For the first time in 36 years, red tide causes the closing of Boston Harbor to shellfishing.
To view the article: www.boston.com
Ask A Scientist!
Do you have a question you need answered about phytoplankton? Submit Question
Toxic Dinophysis acuminata Bloom in Texas
On February 14, 2008 Dr. Lisa Campbell, an oceanography researcher at Texas A&M University, noticed some interesting
images being taken by an instrument, the Imaging Flow CytoBot, deployed at Port Aransas, Texas. An undetermined species
of Dinophysis was beginning to show up in increasing numbers. She notified state officials and
others about the potential bloom and soon after sent a water sample to the FDA to test for the toxin okadaic acid.
Three weeks later the event had become a full-fledged bloom. A report of discolored water in the Port Aransas marina on
March 3 led to a water sample containing high concentrations of Dinophysis acuminata. By
the next day FDA had found okadaic acid in Dr. Campbell's water sample. The Texas Department of State Health Services
immediately began collecting water samples from area oyster reefs and by the end of the week a press release was issued
announcing the closure of Corpus Christi, Aransas and Copano bays to the harvest of oysters, clams and mussels as well as a
recall of those shellfish harvested on or after March 1. This marks the first time the Texas shellfishery has been closed
due to okadaic acid.
Texas volunteers did find a high abundance of D. acuminata in Christmas Bay, an area north
of the main bloom. As the event progressed, levels of D. acuminata dropped while those of
Prorocentrum compressum. Though the oysters did accumulate okadaic acid quickly at the onset
of the bloom, the toxin levels had declined dramatically before the end of March. By April 1 the state health department
had begun to reopen certain bays to shellfish harvesting; all bays were reopened by April 12.
Volunteer monitoring is a great addition to the event monitoring done by state agencies and universities because many times the resources are not available to allow for a large-scale survey of coastal waters. Texas is fortunate to have such wonderful volunteers!
Schedule Trainings
Please check the PMN training calendar for available dates and email Allison or Jeff to reserve your day and time.
