Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Sullivan, James

Abstract

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) spans approximately one-third of the east coast of Florida and faces numerous harmful algal blooms. The potentially toxic diatom, Pseudonitzschia, has been observed in many locations of the IRL. The goal of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the factors contributing to population dynamics of Pseudo-nitzschia in the southern IRL system. Bi-monthly surface water samples were collected for 18 months from five locations. Cell counts enumerated all microphytoplankton, and environmental data was collected at sampling sites throughout the study by the Indian River Lagoon Observatory Network. Six species of Pseudonitzschia were isolated and characterized through 18S Sanger sequencing and scanning electron microscopy, all showed toxicity. Surface water samples also showed domoic acid (DA) presence. We report the first known occurrence of Pseudo-nitzschia micropora in the IRL and the first known DA production from this taxon.

Extent

83 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (MS)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00013714

Format

pdf

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