Harmful algal blooms along central Guatemalan Pacific coast
Authors/Creators
- 1. Instituto de Investigaciones Hidrobiológicas, Centro de Estudios del Mar y Acuicultura, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
- 2. Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Pesquerías, Universidad Veracruzana, Boca del Río, Veracruz, Mexico
- 3. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain
Description
Along the Guatemalan Pacific coast, sporadic studies on harmful algal blooms (HAB) date back to 1987 when 193 human intoxications (including 22 deaths) caused by the dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense were reported. In recent years, HAB in the study zone have been caused by Margalefidinium polykrikoides and P. bahamense; however, the reports do not mention accompanying species. To fill this gap, studies on phytoplankton and its spatial-temporal changes in relation to physical-chemical variables were initiated. In November 2019, P. bahamense reached an abundance of 1.00 x 104 cells L-1. In September 2020, M. polykrikoides vegetative cells reached 1.24 x 106 cells L-1 and its cysts 1.53 x 106 cells L-1. Noctiluca scintillans bloomed in November 2020 and March 2021 (up to 1.20 x 106 cells L-1). Since January 2021, monthly monitoring has been launched at three sampling stations with site depths from 1.5 to 5 m at 3-5 km from the coastline. In March 2021, a M. polykrikoides bloom was detected (1.20 x 106 cells L-1). Yearly monitoring allowed us to follow seasonal changes in both harmful species and the entire phytoplankton community; this is recommended for considering when studying a bloom event.