Historical perspective on Karenia brevis red tide research in the Gulf of Mexico

An expert elicitation process to project the frequency and magnitude of Florida manatee mortality events caused by red tide (Karenia brevis)

“…Upwelling conditions (usually in the fall through spring) driven by the interaction of the Loop Current with the West Florida Shelf may influence bloom severity and extent (Liu and others, 2016). Transport from the offshore formative region-on the middle West Florida Shelf, extending north and south of the Tampa Bay region-generally occurs via onshore, southern flow of the bottom Ekman layer, which explains why most coastal blooms manifest in southwest Florida (Tester and Steidinger, 1997;Walsh and others, 2006;Steidinger, 2009;others, 2009, 2016). Coastal blooms may also manifest in the Atlantic region (for example, Tester and others, 1991;Tester and Steidinger, 1997) or the Northwest region (for example, McCulloch and others, 2013) as a result of transport by currents.…”

“…The seasonal timing of red-tide bloom movement inshore is also a significant factor. Because Karenia brevis blooms generally form offshore in the Gulf of Mexico in the fall and can be transported inshore and persist over winter through spring, RTMM events are most likely to occur in the fall, winter, and early spring on the southwest coast (Landsberg and Steidinger, 1998;Steidinger, 2009). Winter and spring also correspond to the dry season in Florida (Southeast Regional Climate Center, 2017), when freshwater flows generally decline and coastal salinities rise, increasing the opportunity for Karenia brevis blooms to move into the inshore habitats occupied by manatees.…”

“…Harmful algal blooms of the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, commonly referred to as "Florida red tide," occur almost annually in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, most frequently affecting the southwest Florida coast (Steidinger and others, 1998;Steidinger, 2009). Blooms can be transported by currents, with red tides occurring occasionally in northwest Florida, and less often being carried by the Gulf Stream to Florida's Atlantic coast (Tester and Steidinger, 1997;Steidinger and others, 1998;Steidinger, 2009).…”

“…Blooms can be transported by currents, with red tides occurring occasionally in northwest Florida, and less often being carried by the Gulf Stream to Florida's Atlantic coast (Tester and Steidinger, 1997;Steidinger and others, 1998;Steidinger, 2009). Karenia brevis produces neurotoxins (brevetoxins) which can cause human health problems (for example, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning from ingestion of toxic shellfish and respiratory irritation from inhalation of toxic aerosol) and wide-ranging effects on fish and wildlife (Steidinger, 2009).…”

“…Blooms can be transported by currents, with red tides occurring occasionally in northwest Florida, and less often being carried by the Gulf Stream to Florida's Atlantic coast (Tester and Steidinger, 1997;Steidinger and others, 1998;Steidinger, 2009). Karenia brevis produces neurotoxins (brevetoxins) which can cause human health problems (for example, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning from ingestion of toxic shellfish and respiratory irritation from inhalation of toxic aerosol) and wide-ranging effects on fish and wildlife (Steidinger, 2009). Large-scale fish kills are common during Florida red tides, and the transfer and distribution of brevetoxins through the marine food web often lead to illness and death of seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals (Flewelling and others, 2005;Fire and others, 2008;Landsberg andothers, 2009, 2014).…”