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Nutrients and Harmful Algae in the Chesapeake and Aquaculture Systems
Dr. Dan Terlizzi is the PI. The project duration is from 1997 to present. The purpose is to develop an extension and research project concentrating on the development and management of algal blooms.
This project developed in response to a series of toxic algal blooms and massive fish kills at a fish farm in lower Somerset County on Maryland’s’ eastern shore. The practical problem of developing management strategies to help the producer reduce bloom impacts was intertwined with the development of the Pfiesteria hysteria in the Chesapeake. Although Pfiesteria was present at the fish farm kills I strongly suspected that a more abundant dinoflagellate at the time of the kills, Karlodinium micrum was responsible. Adding to the complexity of this situation was the fact K. micrum was also associated with some of the Pfiesteria events in the Bay. In response I developed an education and applied research program to manage both the dinoflagellate problem and public concerns.
This project provided the foundation for several graduate student projects included work that confirmed K. micrum as the first toxic dinoflagellate in the Chesapeake. Further work has shown that toxin production is related to environmental factors that reduce growth (salinity and light) and the first evidence of an algal toxin inhibitory to submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) which suggests a role for decline of SAV as a result of K. micrum blooms.
Impacts - This program helped to divert attention away from Pfiesteria and the uncertain connections to nutrients derived from the poultry industry to a more tangible and less frightening algal management problem. This work and projects it helped stimulated played an important role in defusing the Pfiesteria hysteria.
For more information, contact Dr. Dan Terlizzi
Last updated: 04/8/2009
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