Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

PC01 Harmful Algal Blooms

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001

Location: Southwest Hall

Tyrrell, J, V, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039-9644, USA, jtyrrell@mbari.org

Connell, L, , NOAA, Seatle, WA 98112, USA, Laurie.Connell@noaa.gov

Scholin, C, A, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039-9644, USA, scholin@mbari.org

A FIELD TRIAL MONITORING HETEROSIGMA AKASHIWO IN PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON USING THE SANDWICH HYBRIDIZATION ASSAY

Field testing of the sandwich hybridization assay (SHA) for the fish-killing species H. akashiwo was undertaken in Puget Sound, Washington to examine its utility as a monitoring tool. All field samples from Puget Sound shown to contain H. akashiwo by light microscopy were also detected by the SHA. No false positives have been returned using the SHA against a wide panel of organisms. Results to date are extremely encouraging and together with the results from earlier trials in New Zealand indicate that the assay has potential for monitoring purposes. H. akashiwo is detected at levels well below those of concern, allowing ample time to map the boundaries of a bloom and assess trends in its growth and decline. The utility of the SHA was also examined for the detection H. akashiwo in the context of clay mitigation proposed to prevent a bloom from impacting caged finfish. Preliminary laboratory trials show that the clay does not interfere with the SHA at the maximum proposed dosage. Thus, the SHA test could prove useful for monitoring the effectiveness of clay to mitigate impacts of H. akashiwo blooms.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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