Gymnodinium breve Events in 1999-2000

Records of fish kills and G. breve concentrations have been collected in two general areas of the Gulf coast: Alabama and the Florida panhandle, and along the west coast of Florida south of Cedar Keys to Cape Romano. Beginning in early February sampling in southwest Florida expanded into the westernmost part of the Florida Keys. In addition to occurring along the Gulf coast, a minor and short-lived G. breve bloom was observed during September and October in the Atlantic along the northeast Florida coast between Cape Canveral and the Georgia state line.

During the fall of 1999 sampling was most consistent and intensive along the Alabama/northwest Florida coast where a bloom was observed beginning in August and lasting until October. A second bloom began in the Florida Panhandle during November and persisted until the end of December. Little or no incidence of G. breve was observed in this region during January. As of the beginning of February the situation has returned to normal conditions and sampling has ceased.

The chart below summarizes the data collected from August, 1999 through February 22, 2000. Numbers refer to the number of sites sampled.

Along the southwest coast a different pattern of G. breve blooms has occurred. An initial fall bloom occurred in September and October followed by a second bloom beginning in late December. This second bloom has persisted and moved southward through the month of February. Sampling conducted during January as a part of the ECOHAB:Florida research program indicated low to medium concentrations of G. breve offshore with generally higher concentrations nearer shore. In late January fish kills were reported near Key West. Low to medium concentrations of G. breve in the westernmost Florida Keys have been detected in early February. Since mid-February the sampling program has concentrated around the Marco Island area in Collier County where the bloom continues to persist into April.

The chart below summarizes the data collected from August, 1999 through April 13, 2000. Numbers refer to the number of sites sampled.