Sampling harmful benthic dinoflagellates: Comparison of artificial and natural substrate methods

Tester, Patricia A. and Kibler, Steven R. and Holland, Wiliam C. and Usup, Gires and Vandersea, Mark W. and Chui , Pin Leaw and Lim , Po Teen and Larsen, Jacob and Mohammad Noor, Normawaty and Faust, Maria A. and R. Litaker, Wyane (2014) Sampling harmful benthic dinoflagellates: Comparison of artificial and natural substrate methods. Harmful Algae, 39. pp. 8-25. ISSN 1568-9883

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Abstract

This study compared two collection methods for Gambierdiscus and other benthic harmful algal bloom (BHAB) dinoflagellates, an artificial substrate method and the traditional macrophyte substrate method. Specifically, we report the results of a series of field experiments in tropical environments designed to address the correlation of benthic dinoflagellate abundance on artificial substrate and those on adjacent macrophytes. The data indicated abundance of BHAB dinoflagellates associated with new, artificial substrate was directly related to the overall abundance of BHAB cells on macrophytes in the surrounding environment. There was no difference in sample variability among the natural and artificial substrates. BHAB dinoflagellate abundance on artificial substrates reached equilibrium with the surrounding population within 24 h. Calculating cell abundance normalized to surface area of artificial substrate, rather than to the wet weight of macrophytes, eliminates complications related to the mass of different macrophyte species, problems of macrophyte preference by BHAB dinoflagellates and allows data to be compared across studies. The protocols outlined in this study are the first steps to a standardized sampling method for BHAB dinoflagellates that can support a cell-based monitoring program for ciguatera fish poisoning. While this study is primarily concerned with the ciguatera-associated genus Gambierdiscus, we also include data on the abundance of benthic Prorocentrum and Ostreopsis cells.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	6635/37595
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Gambierdiscus, Ciguatera fish poisoning, Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum, Cell-based monitoring
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Science > Institute of Oceanography and Maritime Studies
Depositing User:	Dr Normawaty Mohammad Noor
Date Deposited:	07 Aug 2014 10:12
Last Modified:	15 Dec 2016 16:43
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/37595

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