Observations on the 1971 summer red tide in Tampa Bay, Florida
Steidinger KA and Ingle RM. 1972. Observations on the 1971 summer red tide in Tampa Bay, Florida. Environmental Letters. 3(4):271-278
A 3 1/2 month summer red tide (Florida west coast) caused by the unarmored dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium breve, is described and discussed. Observations support the following: 1) estuaries normally present a low salinity barrier to this neritic species, 2) heavy cell concentrations are aided by physical factors rather than increased cell division, 3) inshore and nearshore reef fisheries are the only ones affected and then only temporarily, and 4) commercial bivalves are safe for human consumption 1-2 months after a red tide has ended. Further it is suggested that 1) G. breve may bloom from resident cyst population, 2) pollution does not trigger a Florida red tide, 3) G. breve probably bloom almost annually, and 4) major Florida red tide can be predicted by monitoring programs. Abstract provided by author.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Steidinger, K; Ingle, R
- Units
- BISC
- Keywords
- Charlotte Harbor, dinoflagellate, Erythraea, Estuaries, Fish, Growth, Gymnodinium breve, Mortality, Oscillatoria, Phytoplankton, Pollution, Pyrodinium bahamense, Red tide, Salinity barrier, Sarasota Bay, Shellfish, Summer, Tampa Bay, Temperature, Toxicity, Trichodesmium, Wind