SoundHAB: Heterosigma Bloom East Sound, Orcas Island, San Juans

[Megan Black]

East Sound of Orcas Island is experiencing a localized intense  
Heterosigma bloom at 30-28 PSU.  Occurring with it are large  
accumulations of Noctiluca against the shore lines. Also, there are  
large numbers of dinoflagellates including Dinophysis, small  
Gymnodinium, Protoperidinium, Alexandrium, fewer Gyrodinium, and fewer  
Oxhyrris. The north end of East Sound contained fewer Heterosigma, few  
Noctiluca, or dinoflagellates, but was thick with an ameboid  
flagellated protozoan similar to Cercomonas.

For comparison, I've included first a photo of the waters just north  
of Orcas where a diluted Frasier River silt water mass on the right is  
meeting clearer waters on the left.  Next is a photo of a bay on the  
south east side of East Sound where the Noctiluca is pushed up against  
the shore and the Heterosigma is thick from the mouth of the bay  
outward.  The third photo is of Rosario, midway up East Sound, and  
again, Noctiluca is visible as a mass along the shore and docks, and  
Heterosigma dominates farther out from shore.

Liz Tobin and I observed no other obvious Heterosigma blooms around  
the San Juans in yesterday's flight.  Also, the notable Noctiluca  
bloom covering the main basin of Puget Sound had subsided by this  
morning after yesterday's strong winds from the south.

Photos taken 29June2011 by Megan Black from ~1200 feet.  Feel free to  
use them with acknowledgment.



Megan Black
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Biology
University of Washington
Cattolico Laboratory
42 Kincaid Hall
Box 351800
Seattle, WA 98195
425-753-5679
mmdblack at u.washington.edu





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