Mote extended red tide monitoring and research program. Annual progress report for period July 1, 2007 - May 31, 2008. Project period is July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008.

Abstract

This report, which describes the second year of a project, discusses a cooperative effort among Mote Marine Laboratory with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and several other partner institutions throughout Florida, to focus issues concerning the effects of harmful algal blooms on natural resources as well as public health that are not currently being addressed with other investigations. More specifically five areas of critical need are addressed. These are the following titles: 1) A Biomarker to assess exposures of bottlenose dolphins to harmful algal blooms. 2) Immune system effects from exposure of marine vertebrates to the Florida red tide. 3) Red tide impacts on fisheries and stock enhancement. 4) Microbial community dynamics of Florida red tide events. 5) Persistence and trophic transfer of brevetoxins in shellfish and predators. This report covers the second year for all five projects. This second year of the project also included a section on communication and outreach to provide information to the public and allow for feed-back from the community regarding what information the public wants and how it can best be provided.