BROWN TIDE BLOOM INDEX
(Gastrich &
Wazniak,
2002)
Category 1: <35,000 cells/ml Aureococcus anophagefferens
Category 2: > 35,000 to < 200,000 cells/ml Aureococcus
- Reduction in growth of juvenile hard clams,
Mercenaria mercenaria;
- Reduced feeding rates in adult hard clams;
- Growth reduction in mussels (Mytilus edulis) and bay scallops (Argopecten
irradians).
Category 3: > 200,000 cells/ml Aureococcus
- Water becomes discolored yellow-brown;
- Feeding rates of mussels severely reduced;
- Recruitment failures of bay scallops;
- No significant growth of juvenile hard clams;
- Negative impacts to eelgrass due to algal shading;
- Copepod production reduced and negative impacts to protozoa.
For a complete description of the
Brown Tide Bloom Index see:
Gastrich, M.D. and C. E. Wazniak. 2002. A Brown Tide
Bloom Index based on the potential harmful effects of the brown tide alga, Aureococcus
anophagefferens. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management, 5(4):435-441.
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