| Pfiesteria piscicida is one of the
relative small percentage of algal species in the world found to produce
toxins. Blooms of Pfiesteria may be unusual in that they can
generate fish kills with relatively low densities of only100-300
cells/milliliter. It’s life history contains a complex life cycle
characterized by various flagellated, amoeboid and cyst stages and is
capable of sexual and asexual reproduction. Pfiesteria is most
commonly found in the water column during the warmer summer months in
the mid-Atlantic region but has been detected in the sediments during
the cooler months. Low to moderate salinity water (Oligohaline-Mesohaline)
is the preferred by Pfiesteria. The development of species
specific genetic probes has greatly assisted in detection of
Pfiesteria among samples of the plankton community. Research
continues to focus on the molecular structure of the toxins which would
greatly aid in developing a toxin-detecting probe in the future. |
| Seasonal dominance |
Summer months |
| Distribution |
Worldwide; found in Maryland's Chesapeake and Coastal
Bays sub-estuaries. See maps for sediment survey results in
Maryland. (2000-2001)
(2001-2002) |
| Description |
Armored dinoflagellate, 10-40 um |
| References |
Bibliography |
|
Pfiesteria
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Pfiesteria piscicida |
Pfiesteria shumwayae |
