Harmful Algal Information System: Event US-94-015

General Information

Event name:	US-94-015
Country:	UNITED STATES
Nature of the harmful event:	Water Discoloration , Mass mortalities
Event directly affected:	Shellfish
Toxicity detected:	No
Associated syndrome:	OTHER
Unexplained toxicity:	No
Species implicated in toxin transmission (transvector):
Report the outcome of a monitoring programme:	Yes
Event occurred before in this location:	Yes (Similar occurrence in 1984. Distribution, however, appeared to be more uniform during this time.)
Individuals to contact:	STOCKWELL, Dean A.

Location & Date

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Location:	Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information:	Galveston Bay to Sabine Pass., Texas. HAB Area code(s): US-18
Additional location information:	Coastal Texas-Galveston Bay to Sabine Pass, extending to Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana. Includes Chambers and Jefferson counties.
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd):	Start: 1994-05-01, End: 1994-07-01
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information:

Microalgae

Causative organism known:	Yes
Causative Species/Genus:	Gymnodinium sanguineum ( cells/L) Heterosigma carterae ( cells/L)
Co-Ocurring Species/Genus:
Chlorophyll concentration, if known:	µg/l
Additional bloom information:
Event-related bibliography:

Environmental Conditions

Weather:		Turbidity (NTU):	Wind direction:
Stratified water:	No	Oxygen content (nL/L):	Wind velocity:
Temperature (°C):		Oxygen saturation %:	Current Direction:
Sechhi disk (m):		Salinity:	Current Velocity:	0

Nutrient information:

Temperature Range During Event:

Max: °C, Min: °C

Salinity Range During Event:

Bloom location in the water column:

Growth:

In situ

Growth Comments

Suggestion of in situ growth, but data lacking.

Additional Environmental information:

Coastal waters with blooms concentrating near passes, thus indicating a link with freshwater runoff. During this period abnormally weak, non-westerly, mixed directional surface currents prevailed.

Toxin Assay Information

Species containing the toxin

Toxin type

Toxin details

Max. concentration

Assay type

Kit used: No

Type of kit used:

Additional information:

Economic losses:

Management decision:

None taken.

Additional harmful effect information:

Effects: Water discoloration. Low concentrations of dissolved oxygen suspected as major source of mortality. Picture of mortalities becomes confused with coincidentally high mortalities in sea turtles, dolphin, and seabirds.