In July, 2003, more than 20 whales, mostly humpbacks, were found dead near Georges Bank. Concurrently, several dead whales were found in nearshore waters of Maine, where 42 unexplained seal mortalities were also reported. Following negative findings for pathogens, attention shifted to algal biotoxins. Domoic acid (DA) was detected in most of the whales that were sampled, with several containing high concentrations. Plankton samples revealed multiple\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em>species, some known to produce DA. The scientific team concluded that the whales probably died from DA poisoning. As that biotoxin investigation evolved, our lack of knowledge of\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em>\u00a0and the lack of research tools for studying this genus and DA in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) became painfully apparent. We knew that multiple\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em>\u00a0species occur in the GOM, and that some species are toxic, but we knew nothing of their temporal or spatial distribution or the hydrographic features they are associated with, nor did we have molecular probes and detection and enumeration assays akin to those used by workers studying west coast DA events. Such tools are necessary for field investigations of\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em>\u00a0because morphologically similar species can co-occur, with only some being capable of DA production. The west coast probes are not directly applicable within the GOM without testing and probable modification, however, since genetic differences are often sufficient between regions to preclude a direct transfer of this kind of technology.<\/p>\n It is clear from the whale deaths and from subsequent examination of toxicity records that DA represents a cryptic or emerging HAB threat in the northeastern U.S.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0This problem has the potential for serious human health and ecosystem impacts but has not been adequately characterized in the GOM. Little is known about the toxicity and phylogeny of the causative\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em>\u00a0species in the region, and none of the GOM coastal states (Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts) routinely monitors for DA in shellfish. Here we propose a field and laboratory study to characterize the species composition, distribution, abundance and toxicity of\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em>\u00a0spp. in the GOM.\u00a0 This is the first study of its type in the region, and thus is intended to develop the tools, local expertise and background understanding to respond to outbreaks and provide an assessment of the risk from this group of toxic organisms. We will establish and characterize\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em>\u00a0isolates from the GOM, including:<\/p>\n We will also develop and refine probe sequences and protocols for the molecular quantification of toxic\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em>\u00a0species from the GOM, including<\/p>\n We will examine the distribution and ecology of\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em>\u00a0in the GOM using a) coastal samples collected from phytoplankton monitoring efforts in Maine and Massachusetts; and b) coastal and offshore samples collected during two GOM-wide survey cruises funded through a separate project.\u00a0 Also in this final year we will communicate project findings and transfer technologies to officials responsible for regional shellfish monitoring programs and assess the need for ASP toxin monitoring in coastal shellfish. This information will be of direct interest to the shellfish harvesting industry, to coastal managers responsible for public health and seafood safety, as well as those responsible for ecosystem management, including marine mammal strandings and mortality events.<\/p>\n Relevant Publications<\/strong><\/p>\n Bates, S.S. (2000). Domoic-acid-producing diatoms: another genus added!\u00a0Journal of Phycology<\/em>\u00a036, 978-983.<\/p>\n Bates, S.S., C.J. Bird, A.S.W. de Frietas, R. Foxall, M. Gilgan, L.A. Hanic, G.R. Johnson, A.W. McCulloch, P. Odense, R. Pocklington, M.A. Quilliam, P.G. Sim, J.C. Smith, D.V. Subba Rao, E.C.D. Todd, J.A. Walter and J.L.C. Wright (1989). Pennate diatom\u00a0Nitzschia pungens<\/em>\u00a0as the primary source of domoic acid, a toxin in shellfish from eastern Prince Edward Island, Canada.\u00a0Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science<\/em>\u00a046, 1203-1215.<\/p>\n Bates, S.S., D.L. Garrison and R.A. Horner (1998). Bloom dynamics and physiology of domoic-acid-producing\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia<\/em>\u00a0species in Anderson, D.M., A.D. Cembella and G.M. Hallegraeff (Eds),\u00a0Physiological ecology of harmful algal blooms<\/em>, Springer-Verlag, pp. 267-292.<\/p>\n Hasle, G.R. and E.E. Syvertsen (1996). Marine diatoms in Tomas, C.R. (Ed),\u00a0Identifying Marine Diatoms and Dinoflagellates<\/em>, Academic Press, pp. 5-385.<\/p>\n Martin, J.L., K. Haya, L.E. Burridge and D.J. Wildish (1990).\u00a0Nitzschia pseudodelicatissima<\/em>\u00a0– a source of domoic acid in the Bay of Fundy, eastern Canada.\u00a0Marine Ecology Progress Series<\/em>\u00a067, 177-182.<\/p>\n Scholin, C.A., P. Miller, K. Buck, F. Chavez, P. Harris, P. Haydock, J. Howard and G. Cangelosi (1997). Detection and quantification of\u00a0Pseudo-nitzschia australis<\/em>\u00a0in cultured and natural populations using LSU rRNA-targeted probes.\u00a0Limnology and Oceanography<\/em>\u00a042, 1265-1272.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Pseudo-nitzschia: Emerging HAB threat in the Gulf of Maine PIs:\u00a0 D.M. Anderson (WHOI), D.L. Erdner (Univ. of Texas), S.S. Bates (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) In July, 2003, more than 20 whales, mostly humpbacks, were found dead near Georges Bank. Concurrently, several dead whales were found in nearshore waters of Maine, where 42 unexplained seal mortalities…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":713,"menu_order":14,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/818"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=818"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/818\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":822,"href":"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/818\/revisions\/822"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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\n\t\t\t\t![\"Gulf](\"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/07\/pseud_map_600_83809.jpg\" "\\"pseud_map_600_83809\\"")
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\tGulf of Maine surface circulation, with eastern and western segments of the Maine Coastal Current system identified (EMCC and WMCC), as well as the pathways for delivery of cells to both Stellwagen and Georges Banks.
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t![\"Pseudo-nitzschia](\"https:\/\/www2.whoi.edu\/site\/andersonlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/07\/Pseudo_nitzschia_australis_250_83780.jpg\" "\\"Pseudo_nitzschia_australis_250_83780\\"")
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\tPseudo-nitzschia australis.
\n(J. Rines)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"