Table of Contents

• Coverage
• Dataset Description
  • Methods & Sampling
  • Data Processing Description
• Data Files
• Parameters
• Instruments
• Deployments
• Project Information
• Funding

Phytoplankton data and associated environmental conditions collected from net tows approximately weekly from four phytoplankton monitoring sites in Juneau, AK in 2015 and 2016.

Phytoplankton Data:

Dock and beach-based phytoplankton net tow (Sea Gear, 8” diameter, 20um mesh) samples were collected at approximately weekly intervals at four phytoplankton sampling stations; Auke Bay, Amalga, Eagle Beach and Auke Rec in Juneau, AK. Surface net tow durations were 3 minutes.  

Environmental Data:

Air temperature was recorded using the GPS mode on the NOAA weather android application. Surface seawater salinity was determined using a refractometer for salinity. Surface seawater temperature was recorded using a waterproof digital thermometer. Tide observations were verified using the GPS mode on the Tides Near Me android application. 

Net tow samples were counted the same day as collection using a NEOSCI-ruled microscope slide with an 8×8 square grid to estimate relative abudance.

BCO-DMO Data Processing Notes:

-Reformatted column names to comply with BCO-DMO standards
-Removed spaces from data values and replaced with underscores
-Filled in blank cells with "nd"
-Replaced tide and weather codes with the appropriate definitions listed in the metadata
-2017-07-25: Updated with data from 2016.

Description from NSF award abstract:
The project is supported under the NSF Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability Fellows (SEES Fellows) program, with the goal of helping to enable discoveries needed to inform actions that lead to environmental, energy and societal sustainability while creating the necessary workforce to address these challenges.

This project focuses on the sustainability of shelfish harvesting in Alaska. In Alaska, paralytic shellfish poisoning caused by the marine alga Alexandrium is a severe and persistent problem that significantly impacts human health and the availability of shellfish resources. This project aims to enhance sustainability of commercial, recreational and subsistence shellfish harvest in Southeast Alaska by addressing the ecology of Alexandrium harmful algal blooms and their sociocultural impacts. Despite the recognized impacts of paralytic shellfish poisoning, little research has been done on the causative organism, Alexandrium, and the sociocultural impacts of toxic Alexandrium blooms in the Southeast Alaska region. This study is a three-pronged effort. First, the project bolsters understanding of the ecological mechanisms that promote Alexandrium blooms by mapping cyst seedbeds (i.e., bloom initiation sites), monitoring cyst emergence, and identifying environmental conditions under which blooms form. This information adds to the body of scientific knowledge about Alexandrium bloom dynamics in coastal, fjord systems, provide early-warning information about toxic bloom development and help focus future paralytic shellfish poisoning testing and harmful algal bloom monitoring efforts in Southeast Alaska. Second, the application of novel in situ sensors will overcome previous benthic emergence monitoring challenges and has the potential to improve harmful algal bloom forecasting capabilities. Third, human dimensions research will generate critical information about how social systems can reduce vulnerability to harmful algal blooms and how local/traditional knowledge can support scientific efforts by establishing strong community partnerships.

The SEES Fellow, Dr. Elizabeth Tobin, works with host mentor Dr. Ginny Eckert at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and with partner mentor Dr. Thomas Leschine at the University of Washington.