PHYTOPLANKTON
MONITORING NETWORK
(PMN)
NOAA/NOS Marine Biotoxins Program
Allison Sill, Program Coordinator
Jeff Paternoster, Outreach Specialist
Dr. Steve Morton, Project Director
Kimberly Nowocin, Web Site Coordinator
PMN Goals
• 
• 
• 
• 
Educate volunteers on harmful algal blooms (HABs)
Create list of harmful species in coastal waters
Identify trends where HABs occur
Foster relationship between volunteers and researchers
PMN Technology
•  Secure Website Database
•  Olympus Mic-D Digital Microscope
•  arcIMS
–  Displays PMN data in a user-friendly way
–  Available to general public
•  Exploring the use of data sensors
Olympus Mic-D
PMN Participants
• School Groups
• 4-H Centers
• Aquariums
• Colleges & Universities
• Civic Groups
• State Parks & National Research
Reserves
• 103 Sample Sites!
When a Bloom is reported
1
2
Phytoplankton Bloom
3
Dr. Morton with Sample
PMN Staff
4
6
5
Tested for Toxins
Culture of Species
Identification
GULF of MEXICO DATA SHEET
219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412
FAX: 843-762-8700, Phone: 843-762-8656 (Allison) -8657 (Jeff)
Program Coordinator: Allison Sill ([email protected])
Outreach Specialist: Jeff Paternoster ([email protected])
Count (Total #)
N, P,
C, A, B*
DIATOMS
Count (Total #)
N, P,
C, A, B*
DIATOMS
Count (Total #)
N, P,
C, A, B*
Akashiwo sanguinea
Amphiprora spp.
Melosira spp.
Alexandrium monilatum
u Asterionella
u Navicula
u Ceratium furca
Bacillaria spp.
Nitzschia spp.
u Ceratium fusus
Bacteriastrum spp.
Odontella spp.
u Ceratium longipes
Bacterosira spp.
u Pleurosigma
Dinophysis spp.
Chaetoceros spp.
Pseudo-nitzschia spp.
Gambierdiscus toxicus
Corethron spp.
Rhizosolenia spp.
Karenia brevis
u Coscinodiscus
Skeletonema spp.
Karlodinium spp.
Dactyliosolen spp.
Stephanopyxis spp.
Lingulodinium polyedrum
Ditylum spp.
Thalassionema spp.
Prorocentrum lima
Eucampia spp.
Thalassiosira spp.
Prorocentrum micans
Fragilaria spp.
OTHERS (Raphidophytes, Haptophytes, Cyanophytes)
Protoperidinium spp.
Guinardia spp.
Fibrocapsa japonica
Pyrodinium spp.
Hemiaulus spp.
Heterosigma spp.
OTHERS FOUND
Leptocylindrus spp.
Phaeocystis spp.
Licmophora spp.
Trichodesium spp.
# of Colonies
pH:
Secchi Disk (cm):
Sampling Site:
Dissolved Oxygen (ppm):
Comments:
Date of Sample:
Time of Sample:
Weather: Sunny | Partly Cloudy | Mostly Cloudy | Cloudy | Rain
Wind direction: N | NE | E | SE | S | SW | W | NW
Water Temperature (°C):
Wind speed (mph): 0-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-20 | 20-25 | 25+
Air Temperature (°C):
Barometric pressure (mmHg):
Salinity (ppt):
Tides: High | Low | Incoming | Outgoing
Optional
Name:
Optional
Required
DINOFLAGELLATES
Report Blooms to PMN Staff by Phone or e-mail!
u = Morphotypes
* Abundance Ratios:
None = 0
Present = 0.1–10%
Common = 10.1–40%
Abundant = 40.1–80%
Bloom = 80.1–100%
Web Site: http://www.chbr.noaa.gov/PMN/
Significant Blooms found by the PMN
Date
Species
Found by…
Interesting
Info
May 05
Pseudo nitzschia
pseudodelicatissima
NC - First Flight HS
College of the
Albemarle
First time species
found in SE Atlantic!
November 06
Pseudo nitzschia
pungens
Pseudo nitzschia
multiseries
NC - First Flight HS
College of the
Albemarle
First time domoic acid
found in SE Atlantic!
Oysters and water
sample tested positive
for domoic acid.
September 07
Pseudo nitzschia
pungens
NC - First Flight HS
Mussels and water
samples tested positive
for domoic acid.
October 07
Pseudo nitzschia
pungens
TX - Texas Master
Naturalists
First monitoring group
in Texas to find a toxic
bloom.
Pseudo nitzschia multiseries
Pseudo nitzschia pungens
Pseudo nitzschia
psuedodelicatissima