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Understanding Causes and Impacts of the Dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Blooms in the Chesapeake Bay

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Abstract

During August and September 2007, the lower Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries experienced a massive bloom of Cochlodinium polykrikoides Margalef (>104 cells per milliliter) that persisted for over a month, was extremely patchy, and at times penetrated into the Atlantic Ocean. The onset of the bloom coincided with a period of intense rainfall and stormwater runoff after a protracted summer drought period. Genetic evidence showed this species to be distinct from many Asian strains but similar to other North American strains. Populations dominated by C. polykrikoides took up a variety of nitrogenous compounds to support their growth and were able to mobilize additional sources of organic nutrients through peptide hydrolysis. Bioassays determined that C. polykrikoides exerted a lethal affect on juvenile fish and shellfish, causing 100% mortality of juvenile fish (Cyprinodon variegates) in less than 24 h and 20% mortality in juvenile American oysters (~21 mm; Crassostrea virginica) within 72 h.

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Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research Event Response Program. We thank the Hampton Roads Sanitation District and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for supporting DATAFLOW mapping and shallow-water continuous monitoring efforts. This work was also funded through grants from the Virginia Environmental Endowment to MRM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ocean, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University, 4600 Elkhorn Avenue, Norfolk, VA, 23529-0276, USA

    Margaret R. Mulholland, Ryan E. Morse, George E. Boneillo, Peter W. Bernhardt, Katherine C. Filippino, Leo A. Procise & Jose L. Blanco-Garcia

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529-0266, USA

    Harold G. Marshall & Todd A. Egerton

  3. Hampton Roads Sanitation District, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

    William S. Hunley

  4. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, 23061, USA

    Kenneth A. Moore

  5. School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-5000, USA

    Dianna L. Berry & Christopher J. Gobler

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  1. Margaret R. Mulholland
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  2. Ryan E. Morse
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Correspondence to Margaret R. Mulholland.

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Mulholland, M.R., Morse, R.E., Boneillo, G.E. et al. Understanding Causes and Impacts of the Dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Blooms in the Chesapeake Bay. Estuaries and Coasts 32, 734–747 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-009-9169-5

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