Extreme Natural Events
Extreme natural events such as hurricanes, floods, and harmful algal blooms stress coastal ecosystems, often for long periods after their passing. Predicting the extent and duration of these effects is one of the research objectives of CCFHR. These predictions are useful to coastal managers in responding to these events and in developing plans to deal with their recurrence.
A major research program at CCFHR has better our scientific understanding of harmful algal blooms. This program has identified the life cycle of the dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida. Molecular probes have been developed to distinguish it from other algae with which it can be confused. This capability allows managers to respond more precisely to reported algal blooms or to evidence of their effects and thereby issue appropriate warnings, avoid unnecessary public anxiety, and provide appropriately directed responses.
CCFHR is developing models to predict how nutrients can trigger and sustain harmful algal blooms. These models may be used to forecast when and where blooms are likely to occur.
In other work, techniques have been developed to measure algal toxins such as domoic acid. We provide this technology to such partners and users as the Quileute tribe in Washington State to better protect public health.
CCFHR has developed assays for brevetoxins produced by the algae, Karenia brevis and is determining its effects on copepods. These effects may lead to transfer to organisms higher in the food web with possible mortalities of valued fish, seabirds and marine mammals.
Hurricanes are a regularly occurring phenomenon along the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the U.S. causing extensive damage to human lives and property. Hurricanes also effect the ecological infrastructure upon which a significant proportion of the economy of these regions depends. CCFHR scientists have documented how the ecosystem of the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound has responded to a recent flurry of hurricanes striking North Carolina. Remobilization of nutrients has triggered algal blooms with possible environmental degradation. Satellite imaging and other remote sensing technologies are being employed to document the persistence of the effects of these hurricanes. These effects include freshwater inputs and salinity changes, water column destratification and restratification, eutrophication, and development of hypoxia. These effects can ripple through other parts of coastal ecosystems with consequences which we cannot fully predict, but which CCFHR researchers are seeking to understand.