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Texas Red Tide Workers, Prorocentrum minimum bloom - Texas
The following information was submitted by Andy Tirpak of TPW's Clear Lake office:
Dr. Bill Wardle with TAMU-Galveston determined that a sample of discolored water collected from Lake Madeline (Galveston) on Sunday, January 7, contained a large number of Prorocentrum minimum. This species is a widely distributed marine species, frequently bloom-forming in eutrophied coastal waters. This species contains reddish pigments and causes the water to have a brownish to mahogany hue. Prorocentrum is typically found in areas of moderate salinity and does not occur in fresh water. Nutrients, light, temperature and water flow are factors that enhance the blooms and it has been reported that Prorocentrum minimum is toxic to marine life in the laboratory, but no toxic effects was observed in this case.
Info on Prorocentrum minimum on the web:
- http://www2.fimr.fi/algaline/sheets/sheetman/prormin.htm
- http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/cblife/algae/dino/prorocentrum_minimum.html
pictures:
- http://www2.fimr.fi/algaline/sheets/sheetman/kuvat/prormin1.htm
- http://www.marbot.gu.se/sss/dinoflagellates/Prorocentrum_minimum.htm
Cindy Contreras
Water Quality Coordinator
Resource Protection Division
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744(512) 912-7095 phone
(512) 707-1358 fax
cindy.contreras@tpwd.state.tx.us
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us