Methods for sampling and analysis of marine microalgae in ship ballast tanks: a case study from Tampa Bay, Florida, USA

Abstract

Ballasting and deballasting of shipping vessels in foreign ports have been reported worldwide as a vector of introduction of non-native aquatic plants and animals. Recently, attention has turned to ballast water as a factor in the global increase of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Many species of microalgae, including harmful dinoflagellate species, can remain viable for months in dormant benthic stages (cysts) in ballast sediments. Over a period of four years, we surveyed ballast water and sediment of ships docked in two ports of Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Sampling conditions encountered while sampling ballast water and sediments were vastly different between vessels. Since no single sample collection protocol could be applied, existing methods for sampling ballast were modified and new methods created to reduce time and labor necessary for the collection of high-quality, qualitative samples. Five methods were refined or developed, including one that allowed for a directed intake of water and sediments. From 63 samples, 1,633 dinoflagellate cysts and cyst-like cells were recovered. A native, cyst-forming, harmful dinoflagellate, Alexandrium balechii (Steidinger) F. J. R. Taylor, was collected, isolated, and cultured from the same vessel six months apart, indicating that ships exchanging ballast water in Tampa Bay have the potential to transport HAB species to other ports with similar ecologies, exposing them to non-native, potentially toxic blooms.

Metagenomic Sequencing Identifies Highly Diverse Assemblages of Dinoflagellate Cysts in Sediments from Ships’ Ballast Tanks

“…Twenty-two fully identified dinoflagellate species having no prior evidence of being cyst-formers were identified in this study. Among these, only Prorocentrum micans has been reported previously in tank sediments, but only as vegetative cells [51,82,87,90,139,140]. All other 21 species are reported from tank sediments for the first time here.…”

The first report ofVulcanodinium rugosum(Dinophyceae) from the South China Sea with a focus on the life cycle

“…The surprisingly high viability of V. rugosum NM cells under low temperatures suggests the possibility of transport via North Sea ballast water (Garrett et al 2011). Both asexual and sexual resting cysts can be produced by some dinoflagellate species (Kremp & Parrow 2006).…”

“…V. rugosum was formally described from an isolate from a Mediterranean lagoon (Ne´zan & Chome´rat 2011). It has now been recorded in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hawaii and Europe (Rhodes et al 2010;Garrett et al 2011;Ne´zan & Chome´rat 2011;Rhodes et al 2011a;Smith et al 2011). …”

Analysis of heavy metal content of Pb in ballast water tank of commercial vessels in port of Tanjung Emas Semarang, Central Java province

“…Portable pump and suction hoses are used to collect the water sample [8]. The portable pump is from Sanyo brand, model P-WH137C, 220 V~50 Hz of voltage source, 125 W of output power, 30 liters/minute of maximum water capacity.…”