Table Of ContentCoastal and Estuarine Studies
Managing Editors:
Malcolm J. Bowman Richard T. Barber
Christopher N.K. Mooers John A. Raven
Coastal
and Estuarine Studies
formerly Lecture Notes on Coastal and Estuarine Studies
35
E.M. Cosper V.M. Bricelj
E.J. Carpenter (Eds.)
Novel Phytoplankton Blooms
Causes and Impacts of Recurrent Brown Tides
and Other Unusual Blooms
Springer-Verlag
Berlin Heidelberg New York London Paris Tokyo Hong Kong
Managing Editors
Malcolm J. Bowman
Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York
Stony Brook, N.Y. 11794, USA
Richard T. Barber
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
Christopher N. K. Mooers
Ocean Process Analysis Laboratory
Science and Engineering Research Building
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824, USA
John A. Raven
Dept. of Biological Sciences, Dundee University
Dundee, 001 4HN, Scotland
Contributing Editors
Ain Aitsam (Tallinn, USSR) . Larry Atkinson (Savannah, USA)
Robert C. Beardsley (Woods Hole, USA) . Tseng Cheng-Ken (Oingdao, PRC)
Keith R. Dyer (Merseyside, UK) . Jon B. Hinwood (Melbourne, AUS)
Jorg Imberger (Western Australia, AUS) . Hideo Kawai (Kyoto, Japan)
Paul H. Le Blond (Vancouver, Canada) . L. Mysak (Montreal, Canada)
Akira Okubo (Stony Brook, USA) . William S. Reebourgh (Fairbanks, USA)
David A. Ross (Woods Hole, USA) . John H. Simpson (Gwynedd, UK)
Absornsuda Siripong (Bangkok, Thailand) . Robert L. Smith (Covallis, USA)
Mathias Tomczak (Sydney, AUS) . Paul Tyler (Swansea, UK)
Editors
E.M. Cosper
V. M. Bricelj
E. J. Carpenter
Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York
Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
ISBN-13:978-3-642-75282-7 e-ISBN-13:978-3-642-75280-3
001: 10.1007/978-3-642-75280-3
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paid. Violations fall under the prosecution act of the German Copyright Law.
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1989
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1s t edition 1989
2131/3140-543210 - Printed on acid-free paper
This volume gathers the proceedings of the invited lectures of the symposium
on Novel Phytoplankton Blooms: Causes and Impacts of Recurrent Brown Tides
and Other Unusual Blooms, state University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony
Brook, NY, USA, October 27 & 28, 1988.
Conference Themes
A. Characterization of the "Brown Tide" Microalga
B. Occurrence and Distribution of the "Brown Tide"
C. Environmental Factors Influencing "Brown Tide" Blooms
D. Other Unusual Microalgal Blooms
E. Impacts of Blooms on Shellfish
F. Impacts of Blooms on Finfish and Zooplankton
G. Impacts of Blooms on Eelgrass
H. Environmental Management
Conference Organizers
Elizabeth M. Cosper, V. Monica Bricelj, Malcolm Bowman,
Edward J. Carpenter, Akira Okubo, Mario Vieira, William Wise
Marine Sciences Research Center
State University of New York at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY, USA 11794
Conference and Proceedings Sponsorship
New York Sea Grant Institute
University of Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program
Living Marine Resources Institute of the Marine Sciences Research Center
Waste Management Institute of the Marine Sciences Research Center
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation -
Water Resources Division
suffolk County Department of Health Services
Technical Support and Editing
Anita Savarese, Sigrun H. Jonasdottir and Valerie A. Philbrick
PREFACE
A massive phytoplankton bloom, locally termed "brown tide", suddenly
appeared in Long Island marine bays in 1985, colored the water a dark brown,
decimated eelgrass beds and caused catastrophic starvation and recruitment
failure of commercially important bay scallop populations. These "brown
tide" blooms, caused by a very small, previously undescribed chrysophyte
alga, have directly affected the estuarine environments of three northeastern
American states: Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.
other phytoplankton blooms such as "red tides" caused by dinoflagellates
and "green tides" from chlorophytes as well as blue-green algae blooms have
long been recognized and studied world wide, however, the unusual nature of
these "brown tide" blooms caught the interest of many people. Scientists
were particularly intrigued by the discovery of a previously unknown
microalga which provided the opportunity to learn more about small
microalgae, picoplankters, which are usually ignored due to the difficulty
in identifying species.
A symposium entitled, "Novel Phytoplankton Blooms: Causes and Impacts
of Recurrent Brown Tides and Other Unusual Blooms", was convened on October
27 and 28 at the State University of New York at Stony Brook on Long Island,
with 220 registrants and nearly 50 scientific papers presented by researchers
from the united States as well as Europe. The conference documented unusual
bloom occurrences of recent and past years on a worldwide basis as well as
northeast regional recurrences of the previously unknown "brown tide" blooms.
Topics addressed at the conference included: Characterization of the "Brown
Tide" Microalga, Occurrence and Distribution, Growth Physiology and Dynamics,
and Environmental Factors Influencing "Brown Tide" Blooms, Other Unusual
Blooms Past and Present, Impacts of Blooms on Shellfish, Finfish,
Zooplankton, and Eelgrass, as well as Environmental Management. L. Slobodkin
delivered an intriguing banquet presentation entitled "The Null Case of the
Paradox of the Plankton."
An emergent theme from the conference was that the convergence of,
perhaps subtle, but long term anthropogenic and eutrophication effects with
aperiodic environmental conditions can be demonstrated in many instances to
resul t in dramatic phytoplankton blooms; for instance, the sewering of
Providence, R.I. and the red tide of 1898 (S. Nixon), duck farm effluents and
VII
the green tides of the 1950's (J.H. Ryther), nutrient loading and acid rain
leachates in Scandinavian waters associated with red tides and unusual
Chrysochromulina blooms of 1988 (E. Graneli & others, E. Paasche & others, T.
Smayda), and unusual Gulf Stream meanders seeding Ptychodiscus brevis into
enriched coastal waters off North Carolina (P. Tester & others).
The blooming of the newly identified "brown tide" species, Aureococcus
anophagefferens (J. Sieburth, P. Johnson & P. Hargraves), could in part relate
to new anthropogenic influences such as different chelators in detergents
(Cosper & others) or new lawn treatments (J. Sieburth). The environmental
scenario for the formation of a "brown tide" bloom in the early summers of
1985 and 1986 possibly involved reduced rainfall, leading to elevated
salinities in enclosed bays, followed by pulses of rain delivering specific
nutrients to the bay waters (Cosper & Dennison) and increased residence time
of bay waters (M. Vieira). The selection of A. anophagefferens probably related
both to specific chemical conditions as well as selective grazing pressures
(Smayda & Villareal, D. Caron & others, L. Duguay & others).
The compilation of important information and findings to date concerning
the "brown tide" blooms as well as other unusual blooms into a comprehensive
volume will hopefully be valuable in developing an understanding of the
underlying causes and impacts of these blooms so as to guide environmental
management responses and possible mitigation measures.
August 1989 Elizabeth M. Cosper
Table of Contents
A. Characterization of the "Brown Tide" Microalga
1. Picoplankton Ultrastructure: A Decade of Preparation for the
Brown Tide Alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens.
J.McN. Sieburth and P.W. Johnson 1
2. Autotrophic Picoplankton in Narragansett Bay
and Their Interaction With Microplankton.
P.E. Hargraves, R.D. Vaillancourt and G.A. Jolly 23
3. Immunochemical Approaches to the Identification
of the Ultraplankton: Assets and Limitations.
L. Campbell, L.P. Shapiro, E.M. Haugen and L. Morris 39
4. Photosynthetic Pigment Composition of the Brown Tide Alga:
Unique Chlorophyll and Carotenoid Derivatives.
R.R. Bidigare . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
5. Absorption and Fluorescent Characteristics of the
Brown Tide Chrysophyte. Its Role on Light Reduction in
Coastal Marine Environments.
C.S. Yentsch, D.A. Phinney and L.P. Shapiro 77
6. Lipid Composition and Nutritional Value of the
Brown Tide Alga Aureococcus anophagefferens.
V.M. Bricelj, N.S. Fisher, J.B. Guckert and F.-L.E. Chu ..... . 85
7. Dimethylsulfide Production and Marine Phytoplankton:
An Additional Impact of Unusual Blooms.
M.D. Keller, W.K. Bellows and R.R.L. Guillard . 101
B. Occurrence and Distribution of the "Brown Tide"
8. The Spatial and Temporal Distribution of "Brown Tide"
in Eastern Long Island.
R. Nuzzi and R.M. Waters 117
9. Primary Productivity and Growth Dynamics of the
"Brown Tide" in Long Island Embayments.
E.M. Cosper, E.J. Carpenter, and M. Cottrell 139
10. The 1985 "Brown-Tide" and the Open Phytoplankton Niche
in Narragansett Bay During Summer.
T.J. Smayda and T.A. Villareal 159
11. Development and Distribution of a Brown-Water Algal Bloom in
Barnegat Bay, New Jersey with Perspective on Resources
and Other Red Tides in the Region.
P.S. Olsen 189
x
12. Immunofluorescent Detection of the Brown Tide
Organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens.
D.M. Anderson, D.M. Kulis and E.M. Cosper 213
C. Environmental Factors Influencing "Brown Tide" Blooms
13. Role of Environmental Variables, Specifically Organic Compounds
and Micronutrients, in the Growth of the Chrysophyte
Aureococcus anophagefferens.
S. Dzurica, C. Lee, E.M. Cosper and E.J. Carpenter 229
14. Brown Tide Bioassay: Growth of Aureococcus anophagefferens
Hargraves et Sieburth in Various Known Toxicants.
R.L. Steele, L.C. Wright, G.A. Tracey and G.B. Thursby 253
15. Trophic Interactions Between Nano- and Microzooplankton
and the "Brown Tide".
D.A. Caron, E.L. Lim, H. Kunze, E.M. Cosper and D.M. Anderson 265
16. The Case for Meteorologically Driven Fluctuations in Residence
Times of Long Island Waters Subject to Algal Blooms.
M.E.C. Vieira ..................... . 295
17. Brown Tide Dynamics as a Catastrophe Model.
E. Beltrami ...... . 307
lB. An Examination of the Environmental Factors Important to
Initiating and Sustaining "Brown Tide" Blooms.
E.M. Cosper, W. Dennison, A. Milligan, E.J. Carpenter,
C. Lee, J. Holzapfel and L. Milanese 317
D. Other Unusual Microalgal Blooms
19. The Null Case of the Paradox of the Plankton.
L.B. Slobodkin ..... 341
20. Gulf Stream Transport of the Toxic Red Tide Dinoflagellate
Ptychodiscus brevis from Florida to North Carolina.
P.A. Tester, P.K. Fowler and J.T. Turner 349
21. Zooplankton Feeding Ecology: Copepod Grazing During an
Expatriate Red Tide.
J.T. Turner and P.A. Tester .. 359
22. Historical Perspective of Phytoplankton Blooms
on Long Island and the Green Tides of the 1950's.
J. H. Ryther . . . . . . ......... . 375
23. The Chrysochromulina polylepis Bloom in Scandinavian Waters
During Spring 19BB.
E. Dahl, O. Lindahl, E. Paasche and J. Throndsen 3B3
XI
24. From Anoxia to Fish Poisoning: The Last Ten Years of
Phytoplankton Blooms in Swedish Marine Waters.
E. Graneli, P. Carlsson, P. Olsson, B. Sundstrom,
W. Graneli and O. Lindahl ........... . 407
25. An Extraordinary Red Tide and Fish Kill
in Narragansett Bay.
S.W. Nixon 429
26. Primary Production and the Global Epidemic
of Phytoplankton Blooms in the Sea: A Linkage?
T . J. Smayda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
E. Impacts on Shellfish
27. Overview of Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians) Landings.
J. L. McHugh . . . . . . .. . ..... . 485
28. The Feeding Physiology and Growth of Bay Scallops
and Mussels.
V.M. Bricelj and S.H. Kuenstner .. 491
29. Effects of the Brown Tide Alga on Growth, Feeding Physiology
and Locomotory Behavior of Scallop Larvae (Argopecten irradians).
S.M. Gallager, D.K. Stoecker and V.M. Bricelj ...... . 511
30. Are Metabolites from the Brown Tide Alga, Aureococcus
anophagefferens, Deleterious to Mussel Feeding Behavior?
J.E. Ward and N.M. Targett ....... . 543
31. Testing and Application of Biomonitoring Methods
for Assessing Environmental Effects of Noxious Algal Blooms.
G.A. Tracey, R.L. Steele, J. Gatzke, D.K. Phelps,
R. Nuzzi, M. Waters and D.M. Anderson .. 557
32. Detrimental Biological Effects of Phytoplankton Blooms
Deserve Increased Attention.
J.B. Mahoney ............. . 575
F. Impacts of Blooms on Finfish and Zooplankton
33. Abundance and Distribution of Zooplankton and Ichthyoplankton
in Great South Bay, New York During the Brown Tide Outbreaks
of 1985 and 1986.
L.E. Duguay, D.M. Monteleone and C.E. Quaglietta 599
34. Effect of the "Brown Tide" on Feeding, Size and Egg Laying
Rate of Adult Female Acartia tonsa.
A.G. Durbin and E.G. Durbin ... 625
35. Potential Change in the Distribution of Larval Fish Within
Great South Bay, New York in Response to Recurrent
Phytoplankton Blooms.
M. Shima and R.K. Cowen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 647
XII
36. Growth Rates of Bay Anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) in
Great South Bay Under Recurrent Brown Tide Conditions,
Summers 1987 and 1988.
L.R. Castro and R.K. Cowen 663
G. Impacts of Blooms on Eelgrass
37. Effect of "Brown Tide" Shading on Eelgrass
(Zostera marina L.) Distributions.
W.C. Dennison, G.J. Marshall and C. Wigand 675
38. Simple Model of Eelgrass Growth and Water Quality:
Another Catastrophe Theory?
A. Okubo and J. Slater 693
H. Environmental Management
39. Winter Burial of Transplanted Bay Scallops.
S.T. Tettelbach, C.F. Smith, J.E. Kaldy, III,
T. W. Arroll and M.R. Denson ....... . 713
40. The Fishery Manager's Perspective on Unusual Algae Blooms.
G.C. Colvin and K.L. Koetzner ......... . 735
41. Brown Tide Comprehensive Assessment and Management Program.
V.A. Minei ........ . 741
42. Water Quality Monitoring and Modeling for the Peconic Bay BTCAMP.
J.R. Pagenkopf and M.R. Morton, A. Stoddard
and E.D. Santoro .............. . 761
I. Postscript
43. Epilogue to the 2nd Brown Tide Conference:
Are Aureococcus and Other Nuisance Algal Blooms Selectively
Enriched by the Runoff of Turf Chemicals?
J.McN. Sieburth ....... . 779
44. The Possible Role of Lawn Fertilizers and Pesticide
Use in the Occurrence of the Brown Tide.
V. Minei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 785
J. Index ...................................... 787
