Sea
Grant researchers discover
toxic dinoflagellate
cysts in areas of CT
and NY
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Sea
Grant
researchers
discovered
toxic
dinoflagellate
cysts
in
areas
of
Connecticut
and
Long
Island
where
paralytic
shellfish
poisoning
(PSP)
had
never
been
recorded.
When
state
agencies
began
monitoring
those
sites,
PSP
toxicity
was
detected
and,
in
response,
annual
shellfish
testing
programs
were
established
to
provide
protection
to
shellfish
consumers.
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Sea
Grant
biotechnology
research
provides
new
means
to
detection
of
HABs
|
|
Sea
Grant
biotechnology
research
is
already
providing
new
means
to
detect
potentially
toxic
organisms
and
monitor
the
development
of
harmful
algal
blooms,
and
there
is
the
promise
of
further
rapid
advances.
For
example,
when
Pfiesteria
was
first
discovered,
the
identification
and
verification
process
was
cumbersome,
took
2-3
weeks,
and
could
be
carried
out
by
only
a
few
highly-trained
researchers.
However,
Sea
Grant
researchers
were
able
to
develop
the
first
molecular
probe
for
Pfiesteria,
shortening
the
verification
time
to
24-48
hours,
in
time
to
allow
rapid
and
informed
management
responses,
and
enabling
the
analyses
to
be
done
at
lower
cost
and
with
much
less
training.
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Sea
Grant
testing
potential
methods
of
controlling
on
going
HABs
|
|
Sea
Grant
researchers
are
even
beginning
to
test
potential
methods
of
controlling
ongoing
HABs.
In
one
study,
clay
particles
mixed
with
seawater
were
sprayed
over
an
algal
bloom,
where
they
bound
with
the
algae
and
sank
to
the
bottom.
In
laboratory
experiments
meant
to
mimic
field
conditions,
results
showed
that
the
clay
was
able
to
remove
80
to
90
percent
of
the
toxins
in
a
short
time. |
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