Grantee Research Project Results
2002 Progress Report: ECOHAB - Hydrography and Biology to Provide Information for the Construction of a Model to Predict the Initiation, Maintanence and Dispersal of Red Tide on the West Coast of Florida
EPA Grant Number: R829456Title: ECOHAB - Hydrography and Biology to Provide Information for the Construction of a Model to Predict the Initiation, Maintanence and Dispersal of Red Tide on the West Coast of Florida
Investigators: Steidinger, Karen A. , Vargo, Gabriel A. , Neely, Merrie Beth , Kirkpatrick, Gary J. , Schofield, Oscar M.E. , Kamykowski, Daniel , Redalje, Donald , Lohenz, Steven
Current Investigators: Steidinger, Karen A. , Kirkpatrick, Gary J. , Schofield, Oscar M.E. , Kamykowski, Daniel , Redalje, Donald , McGuire, Peter , Lohrenz, Steven
Institution: Florida Marine Research Institute , Rutgers University - New Brunswick , University of Florida , University of Southern Mississippi , North Carolina State University , Mote Marine Laboratory , University of South Florida
Current Institution: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission , North Carolina State University , Rutgers University - New Brunswick , University of South Florida , University of Southern Mississippi
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: December 15, 2001 through September 30, 2003
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 15, 2001 through September 30, 2002
Project Amount: $450,000
RFA: Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , Aquatic Ecosystems
Objective:
The main objectives of this research project are to: (1) create models to predict red tide landfall; (2) identify the physical habitat associated with bloom concentration and transport; (3) elucidate the interactions of biological and environmental factors that lead to bloom development; (4) examine the inorganic and organic nutrient levels and sources; and (5) evaluate the production, occurrence, fate, and effects of brevetoxin in the environment.
The final year of the project was dedicated to investigating Karenia brevis population dynamics and collecting even more synoptic field data to help identify the physical/chemical/biological regime associated with blooms. It is supplemented by additional National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funds that cover the writeup of results for publication in a special journal issue dedicated to ECOHAB:Florida and state trust funds were used to support modeling work.
Progress Summary:
Dr. Schofield's specific objective during the award period was to use spectral signatures to discriminate phytoplankton taxa in vivo to detect phytoplankton using remote sensing. The phytoplankton and (CDOM) loads for Charlotte Harbor were identifiable with this method and can be used effectively to define the difference between terrestrial and oceanic CDOM. The optical phytoplankton inversion (IOP inverter) for three phytoplankton spectral classes were tested against high-performance liquid chromatography/ChemTax estimates of total chlorophyll associated with the major bloom-forming taxa. The results show this method accurately (p <0.05) predicts the concentration of phytoplankton containing chlorophyll c and phycobilin, but not chlorophyll b (chlorophytes). These results demonstrate that the IOP inverter provides reasonable estimates of phytoplankton biomass and the ac-9 instrument can reasonably estimate the spectral absorption of CDOM particles, detritus, and phytoplankton.
Dr. Vargo's objectives were to identify the physical habitat associated with bloom concentration and transport, elucidate the interactions of biological and environmental factors that lead to bloom development, and examine the inorganic and organic nutrient levels and sources. Dr. Vargo and his staff conducted monthly synoptic cruises aboard the RV Bellows and Suncoaster to continue collecting vertical profiles of conductivity, temperature, density, and chlorophyll fluorescence at each of the 70+ stations. Various nutrient, live, and preserved cell counts and extracted chlorophyll measurements were made at every other station. Continuous measurements of surface temperature, salinity, turbidity, particle scattering, and fluorescence were made throughout the cruise via a flow-through, on-deck system.
Dr. Kamykowski's and Dr. Janowitz's objectives were to identify the physical habitat associated with bloom concentration and transport and elucidate the interactions of biological and environmental factors that lead to bloom development. Dr. Kamykowski and his collaborators developed a method to quantify the lipid content of previously collected samples of K. brevis stained with Nile Red using an epifluorescent microscope. This method also works with flow cytometry. Specially designed laboratory incubation systems were developed to better characterize the migration ability of K. brevis, specifically focusing on swimming behavior in response to temperature, and interclonal consistency in nutrient chemotactic and photosynthetic responses. Drs. Kamykowski and Janowitz found that each of eight clonal cultures divided into two groups, one more light capable than the other. This suggests that different clones have different photoresponse capabilities.
In Year 2 of the project, Drs. Lohrenz and Redalje continued their research on the interactions of cellular, behavioral, life cycle, and community regulation processes with environmental forcing factors during stages of bloom development. Their findings were that vertically integrated primary production (IPP) was both higher in the fall of 2001 (IPP 0.92 ± 0.48 g C m-2 d-1) and more variable than during Fall 2000 (IPP = 0.53 ± 0.07 g C m-2 d-1). Cell counts were much greater during fall 2001 (500-800 cells/L versus 100-400 cells/L for fall 2000), contributing to the greater production. Analyses continue for the fall of 2002 Process cruise data; however, earlier cruise data indicate carbon-specific growth rates of 0.1-0.3 d-1. Carbon biomass values ranged from 20-30 percent of the surface particulate organic carbon (POC). Although POC remained fairly constant throughout the water column, phytoplankton carbon decreased steadily at depth. Microalgal POC, derived from radioactive isotope tracers, represents only a small amount of the water column POC. Comparisons of on-deck samples indicate that shallow and deep populations differentially incorporate radiolabelled C14 into proteins or lipids. Deep samples incorporated C14 into proteins much more than into lipids as compared to the surface samples. The investigators also found that K. brevis blooms dominated the total scattering in light, which held true even for migrating populations, and the ratio of backscattering coefficient to absorption at both 440 and 550 nm may be unique for these blooms.
Dr. Kirkpatrick's objective was to investigate the hydrography, photobiology, and biophysical forces of K. brevis blooms. During the yearly ECOHAB:Process cruises (October 2001 and September 2002), deployment of the self-contained underwater photosynthesis apparatus (SUPA) was a priority. SUPA measures diurnal patterns of photosynthetic quantum yield and photoacclimation in surface and subsurface populations. Along the Sarasota ECOHAB:Florida transect, diatoms contribute the most phytoplankton biomass. Cyanophytes also greatly contribute to offshore samples, but during red tides, dinoflagellates dominate biomass. In the absence of a K. brevis bloom, chlorophyll reached up to 10 µg l-1. However, during a red tide, chlorophyll values typically were <3 µg l-1, unless more than 100 x 103 cells l-1 were found. Bloom initiation has differed throughout the transect area over the years, with conditions ranging from initiation offshore at depth and progression landward to first detection of the bloom onshore. Estuarine discharge widely varied during the comprehensive study period and was not correlated to the initiation of red tides. Ratios of organic nutrients from the sampling area indicate luxury consumption of nitrogen by phytoplankton and ultimately phosphorus limitation. Silica was not consistently related to salinity, indicating that seasonal variability and uptake by diatoms can override typical offshore gradients. Concentration of silica on the bottom was generally higher than at the surface. Trace metal concentrations were elevated nearshore, as associated with terrigenous inputs. Iron was not well correlated with K. brevis blooms during the study period. Manganese concentrations were significantly and positively correlated to K. brevis concentration, but many outliers were present and some periods of high manganese concentration were not associated with K. brevis blooms.
Future Activities:
In the next year, we will continue to: (1) create models to predict red tide landfall; (2) identify the physical habitat associated with bloom concentration and transport; (3) elucidate the interactions of biological and environmental factors that lead to bloom development; (4) examine the inorganic and organic nutrient levels and sources; and (5) evaluate the production, occurrence, fate, and effects of brevetoxin in the environment.
Supplemental Keywords:
coastal waters, marine, harmful algal blooms, HABs, red tides, ecological effects, population effects, perturbations, brevetoxins, oceanography, Gulf of Mexico, ecological modeling, prediction, Florida, FL, EPA Region 4., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecology, Health Risk Assessment, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, Oceanography, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Southeast, algal blooms, Ecology and Ecosystems, Gulf of Mexico, ecological effects, ecological exposure, red tides, brevetoxins, harmful algal blooms, ecological modeling, West Coast of Florida, dinoflagellate Gymnodinium breve, Gymnodinium breve toxins, ECOHAB, dinoflagellate, Florida, ecological modelsProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.