The Experts below are selected from a list of 10362 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Lora E. Fleming - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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review of florida Red Tide and human health effects
Harmful Algae, 2011Co-Authors: Lora E. Fleming, Cathy J. Walsh, Kate Nierenberg, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, John D Clark, Julie Hollenbeck, Janet M Benson, Yung-sung ChengAbstract:This paper reviews the literature describing research performed over the past decade on the known and possible exposures and human health effects associated with Florida Red Tides. These harmful algal blooms are caused by the dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, and similar organisms, all of which produce a suite of natural toxins known as brevetoxins. Florida Red Tide research has benefited from a consistently funded, long-term research program, that has allowed an interdisciplinary team of researchers to focus their attention on this specific environmental issue—one that is critically important to Gulf of Mexico and other coastal communities. This long-term interdisciplinary approach has allowed the team to engage the local community, identify measures to protect public health, take emerging technologies into the field, forge advances in natural products chemistry, and develop a valuable pharmaceutical product. The review includes a brief discussion of the Florida Red Tide organisms and their toxins, and then focuses on the effects of these toxins on animals and humans, including how these effects pRedict what we might expect to see in exposed people.
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Florida Red Tide perception: Residents versus tourists
Harmful algae, 2010Co-Authors: Kate Nierenberg, Margaret M. Byrne, Lora E. Fleming, Wendy Stephan, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, Elvira Tanga, Dana Dalpra, Barbara KirkpatrickAbstract:The west coast of Florida has annual blooms of the toxin-producing dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis with Sarasota, FL consideRed the epicenter for these blooms. Numerous outreach materials, including Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) cards, exhibits for local museums and aquaria, public beach signs, and numerous websites have been developed to disseminate information to the public about this natural hazard. In addition, during intense onshore blooms, a great deal of media attention, primarily via newspaper (print and web) and television, is focused on Red Tide. However to date, the only measure of effectiveness of these outreach methods has been counts of the number of people exposed to the information, e.g., visits to a website or number of FAQ cards distributed. No formal assessment has been conducted to determine if these materials meet their goal of informing the public about Florida Red Tide. Also, although local residents have the opinion that they are very knowledgeable about Florida Red Tide, this has not been verified empirically. This study addressed these issues by creating and administering an evaluation tool for the assessment of public knowledge about Florida Red Tide. A focus group of Florida Red Tide outreach developers assisted in the creation of the evaluation tool. The location of the evaluation was the west coast of Florida, in Sarasota County. The objective was to assess the knowledge of the general public about Florida Red Tide. This assessment identified gaps in public knowledge regarding Florida Red Tides and also identified what information sources people want to use to obtain information on Florida Red Tide. The results from this study can be used to develop more effective outreach materials on Florida Red Tide.
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aerosolized Red Tide toxins brevetoxins and asthma
Chest, 2007Co-Authors: Lora E. Fleming, Richard H. Pierce, Yung-sung Cheng, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, Judy A Bean, Adam Wanner, Julia Zaias, Jerome NaarAbstract:Abstract Background: With the increasing incidence of asthma, there is increasing concern over environmental exposures that may trigger asthma exacerbations. Blooms of the marine microalgae, Karenia brevis , cause Red Tides (or harmful algal blooms ) annually throughout the Gulf of Mexico. K brevis produces highly potent natural polyether toxins, called brevetoxins , which are sodium channel blockers, and possibly histamine activators. In experimental animals, brevetoxins cause significant bronchoconstriction. In humans, a significant increase in self-reported respiratory symptoms has been described after recreational and occupational exposures to Florida Red-Tide aerosols, particularly among individuals with asthma. Methods: Before and after 1 h spent on beaches with and without an active K brevis Red-Tide exposure, 97 persons ≥ 12 years of age with physician-diagnosed asthma were evaluated by questionnaire and spirometry. Concomitant environmental monitoring, water and air sampling, and personal monitoring for brevetoxins were performed. Results: Participants were significantly more likely to report respiratory symptoms after K brevis Red-Tide aerosol exposure than before exposure. Participants demonstrated small, but statistically significant, decreases in FEV 1 , midexpiratory phase of forced expiratory flow, and peak expiratory flow after exposure, particularly among those participants regularly using asthma medications. No significant differences were detected when there was no Florida Red Tide ( ie , during nonexposure periods). Conclusions: This study demonstrated objectively measurable adverse changes in lung function from exposure to aerosolized Florida Red-Tide toxins in asthmatic subjects, particularly among those requiring regular therapy with asthma medications. Future studies will assess these susceptible subpopulations in more depth, as well as the possible long-term effects of these toxins.
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overview of aerosolized florida Red Tide toxins exposures and effects
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2005Co-Authors: Lora E. Fleming, Lorraine C. Backer, Daniel G. BadenAbstract:Florida Red Tide is caused by Karenia brevis, a dinoflagellate that periodically blooms, releasing its potent neurotoxin, brevetoxin, into the surrounding waters and air along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Exposure to Florida Red Tide toxins has been associated with adverse human health effects and massive fish and marine mammal deaths. The articles in this mini-monograph describe the ongoing interdisciplinary and interagency research program that characterizes the exposures and health effects of aerosolized Florida Red Tide toxins (brevetoxins). The interdisciplinary research program uses animal models and laboratory studies to develop hypotheses and apply these findings to in situ human exposures. Our ultimate goal is to develop appropriate prevention measures and medical interventions to mitigate or prevent adverse health effects from exposure to complex mixtures of aerosolized Red Tide toxins.
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recreational exposure to aerosolized brevetoxins during florida Red Tide events
Harmful Algae, 2003Co-Authors: Lorraine C. Backer, Richard H. Pierce, Yung-sung Cheng, Lora E. Fleming, Judy A Bean, Julia Zaias, Janet M Benson, Alan Rowan, Gregory D Bossart, David C JohnsonAbstract:Abstract During two separate Karenia brevis Red Tide events, we measuRed the levels of brevetoxins in air and water samples, conducted personal interviews, and performed pulmonary function tests on people before and after they visited one of two Florida beaches. One hundRed and twenty-nine people participated in the study, which we conducted during Red Tide events in Sarasota and Jacksonville, FL, USA. Exposure was categorized into three levels: low/no exposure, moderate exposure, and high exposure. Lower respiratory symptoms (e.g. wheezing) were reported by 8% of unexposed people, 11% of the moderately exposed people, and 28% of the highly exposed people. We performed nasal–pharyngeal swabs on people who experienced moderate or high exposure, and we found an inflammatory response in over 33% of these participants. We did not find any clinically significant changes in pulmonary function test results; however, the study population was small. In future epidemiologic studies, we plan to further investigate the human health impact of inhaled brevetoxins.
Lorraine C. Backer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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review of florida Red Tide and human health effects
Harmful Algae, 2011Co-Authors: Lora E. Fleming, Cathy J. Walsh, Kate Nierenberg, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, John D Clark, Julie Hollenbeck, Janet M Benson, Yung-sung ChengAbstract:This paper reviews the literature describing research performed over the past decade on the known and possible exposures and human health effects associated with Florida Red Tides. These harmful algal blooms are caused by the dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, and similar organisms, all of which produce a suite of natural toxins known as brevetoxins. Florida Red Tide research has benefited from a consistently funded, long-term research program, that has allowed an interdisciplinary team of researchers to focus their attention on this specific environmental issue—one that is critically important to Gulf of Mexico and other coastal communities. This long-term interdisciplinary approach has allowed the team to engage the local community, identify measures to protect public health, take emerging technologies into the field, forge advances in natural products chemistry, and develop a valuable pharmaceutical product. The review includes a brief discussion of the Florida Red Tide organisms and their toxins, and then focuses on the effects of these toxins on animals and humans, including how these effects pRedict what we might expect to see in exposed people.
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Florida Red Tide perception: Residents versus tourists
Harmful algae, 2010Co-Authors: Kate Nierenberg, Margaret M. Byrne, Lora E. Fleming, Wendy Stephan, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, Elvira Tanga, Dana Dalpra, Barbara KirkpatrickAbstract:The west coast of Florida has annual blooms of the toxin-producing dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis with Sarasota, FL consideRed the epicenter for these blooms. Numerous outreach materials, including Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) cards, exhibits for local museums and aquaria, public beach signs, and numerous websites have been developed to disseminate information to the public about this natural hazard. In addition, during intense onshore blooms, a great deal of media attention, primarily via newspaper (print and web) and television, is focused on Red Tide. However to date, the only measure of effectiveness of these outreach methods has been counts of the number of people exposed to the information, e.g., visits to a website or number of FAQ cards distributed. No formal assessment has been conducted to determine if these materials meet their goal of informing the public about Florida Red Tide. Also, although local residents have the opinion that they are very knowledgeable about Florida Red Tide, this has not been verified empirically. This study addressed these issues by creating and administering an evaluation tool for the assessment of public knowledge about Florida Red Tide. A focus group of Florida Red Tide outreach developers assisted in the creation of the evaluation tool. The location of the evaluation was the west coast of Florida, in Sarasota County. The objective was to assess the knowledge of the general public about Florida Red Tide. This assessment identified gaps in public knowledge regarding Florida Red Tides and also identified what information sources people want to use to obtain information on Florida Red Tide. The results from this study can be used to develop more effective outreach materials on Florida Red Tide.
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aerosolized Red Tide toxins brevetoxins and asthma
Chest, 2007Co-Authors: Lora E. Fleming, Richard H. Pierce, Yung-sung Cheng, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, Judy A Bean, Adam Wanner, Julia Zaias, Jerome NaarAbstract:Abstract Background: With the increasing incidence of asthma, there is increasing concern over environmental exposures that may trigger asthma exacerbations. Blooms of the marine microalgae, Karenia brevis , cause Red Tides (or harmful algal blooms ) annually throughout the Gulf of Mexico. K brevis produces highly potent natural polyether toxins, called brevetoxins , which are sodium channel blockers, and possibly histamine activators. In experimental animals, brevetoxins cause significant bronchoconstriction. In humans, a significant increase in self-reported respiratory symptoms has been described after recreational and occupational exposures to Florida Red-Tide aerosols, particularly among individuals with asthma. Methods: Before and after 1 h spent on beaches with and without an active K brevis Red-Tide exposure, 97 persons ≥ 12 years of age with physician-diagnosed asthma were evaluated by questionnaire and spirometry. Concomitant environmental monitoring, water and air sampling, and personal monitoring for brevetoxins were performed. Results: Participants were significantly more likely to report respiratory symptoms after K brevis Red-Tide aerosol exposure than before exposure. Participants demonstrated small, but statistically significant, decreases in FEV 1 , midexpiratory phase of forced expiratory flow, and peak expiratory flow after exposure, particularly among those participants regularly using asthma medications. No significant differences were detected when there was no Florida Red Tide ( ie , during nonexposure periods). Conclusions: This study demonstrated objectively measurable adverse changes in lung function from exposure to aerosolized Florida Red-Tide toxins in asthmatic subjects, particularly among those requiring regular therapy with asthma medications. Future studies will assess these susceptible subpopulations in more depth, as well as the possible long-term effects of these toxins.
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overview of aerosolized florida Red Tide toxins exposures and effects
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2005Co-Authors: Lora E. Fleming, Lorraine C. Backer, Daniel G. BadenAbstract:Florida Red Tide is caused by Karenia brevis, a dinoflagellate that periodically blooms, releasing its potent neurotoxin, brevetoxin, into the surrounding waters and air along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Exposure to Florida Red Tide toxins has been associated with adverse human health effects and massive fish and marine mammal deaths. The articles in this mini-monograph describe the ongoing interdisciplinary and interagency research program that characterizes the exposures and health effects of aerosolized Florida Red Tide toxins (brevetoxins). The interdisciplinary research program uses animal models and laboratory studies to develop hypotheses and apply these findings to in situ human exposures. Our ultimate goal is to develop appropriate prevention measures and medical interventions to mitigate or prevent adverse health effects from exposure to complex mixtures of aerosolized Red Tide toxins.
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recreational exposure to aerosolized brevetoxins during florida Red Tide events
Harmful Algae, 2003Co-Authors: Lorraine C. Backer, Richard H. Pierce, Yung-sung Cheng, Lora E. Fleming, Judy A Bean, Julia Zaias, Janet M Benson, Alan Rowan, Gregory D Bossart, David C JohnsonAbstract:Abstract During two separate Karenia brevis Red Tide events, we measuRed the levels of brevetoxins in air and water samples, conducted personal interviews, and performed pulmonary function tests on people before and after they visited one of two Florida beaches. One hundRed and twenty-nine people participated in the study, which we conducted during Red Tide events in Sarasota and Jacksonville, FL, USA. Exposure was categorized into three levels: low/no exposure, moderate exposure, and high exposure. Lower respiratory symptoms (e.g. wheezing) were reported by 8% of unexposed people, 11% of the moderately exposed people, and 28% of the highly exposed people. We performed nasal–pharyngeal swabs on people who experienced moderate or high exposure, and we found an inflammatory response in over 33% of these participants. We did not find any clinically significant changes in pulmonary function test results; however, the study population was small. In future epidemiologic studies, we plan to further investigate the human health impact of inhaled brevetoxins.
Yung-sung Cheng - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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review of florida Red Tide and human health effects
Harmful Algae, 2011Co-Authors: Lora E. Fleming, Cathy J. Walsh, Kate Nierenberg, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, John D Clark, Julie Hollenbeck, Janet M Benson, Yung-sung ChengAbstract:This paper reviews the literature describing research performed over the past decade on the known and possible exposures and human health effects associated with Florida Red Tides. These harmful algal blooms are caused by the dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, and similar organisms, all of which produce a suite of natural toxins known as brevetoxins. Florida Red Tide research has benefited from a consistently funded, long-term research program, that has allowed an interdisciplinary team of researchers to focus their attention on this specific environmental issue—one that is critically important to Gulf of Mexico and other coastal communities. This long-term interdisciplinary approach has allowed the team to engage the local community, identify measures to protect public health, take emerging technologies into the field, forge advances in natural products chemistry, and develop a valuable pharmaceutical product. The review includes a brief discussion of the Florida Red Tide organisms and their toxins, and then focuses on the effects of these toxins on animals and humans, including how these effects pRedict what we might expect to see in exposed people.
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Characterization of Florida Red Tide aerosol and the temporal profile of aerosol concentration
Toxicon, 2009Co-Authors: Yung-sung Cheng, Richard H. Pierce, Mike Henry, Yue Zhou, Daniel G. BadenAbstract:Red Tide aerosols containing aerosolized brevetoxins are produced during the Red Tide bloom and transported by wind to coastal areas of Florida. This study reports the characterization of Florida Red Tide aerosols in human volunteer studies, in which an asthma cohort spent 1 h on Siesta Beach (Sarasota, Florida) during aerosolized Red Tide events and non-exposure periods. Aerosol concentrations, brevetoxin levels, and particle size distribution were measuRed. Hourly filter samples were taken and analyzed for brevetoxin and NaCl concentrations. In addition, the aerosol mass concentration was monitoRed in real time. The results indicated that during a non-exposure period in October 2004, no brevetoxin was detected in the water, resulting in non-detectable levels of brevetoxin in the aerosol. In March 2005, the time-averaged concentrations of brevetoxins in water samples were moderate, in the range of 5–10 μg/L, and the corresponding brevetoxin level of Florida Red Tide aerosol ranged between 21 and 39 ng/m3. The temporal profiles of Red Tide aerosol concentration in terms of mass, NaCl, and brevetoxin were in good agreement, indicating that NaCl and brevetoxins are components of the Red Tide aerosol. By continuously monitoring the marine aerosol and wind direction at Siesta Beach, we observed that the marine aerosol concentration varied as the wind direction changed. The temporal profile of the Florida Red Tide aerosol during a sampling period could be explained generally with the variation of wind direction.
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aerosolized Red Tide toxins brevetoxins and asthma
Chest, 2007Co-Authors: Lora E. Fleming, Richard H. Pierce, Yung-sung Cheng, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, Judy A Bean, Adam Wanner, Julia Zaias, Jerome NaarAbstract:Abstract Background: With the increasing incidence of asthma, there is increasing concern over environmental exposures that may trigger asthma exacerbations. Blooms of the marine microalgae, Karenia brevis , cause Red Tides (or harmful algal blooms ) annually throughout the Gulf of Mexico. K brevis produces highly potent natural polyether toxins, called brevetoxins , which are sodium channel blockers, and possibly histamine activators. In experimental animals, brevetoxins cause significant bronchoconstriction. In humans, a significant increase in self-reported respiratory symptoms has been described after recreational and occupational exposures to Florida Red-Tide aerosols, particularly among individuals with asthma. Methods: Before and after 1 h spent on beaches with and without an active K brevis Red-Tide exposure, 97 persons ≥ 12 years of age with physician-diagnosed asthma were evaluated by questionnaire and spirometry. Concomitant environmental monitoring, water and air sampling, and personal monitoring for brevetoxins were performed. Results: Participants were significantly more likely to report respiratory symptoms after K brevis Red-Tide aerosol exposure than before exposure. Participants demonstrated small, but statistically significant, decreases in FEV 1 , midexpiratory phase of forced expiratory flow, and peak expiratory flow after exposure, particularly among those participants regularly using asthma medications. No significant differences were detected when there was no Florida Red Tide ( ie , during nonexposure periods). Conclusions: This study demonstrated objectively measurable adverse changes in lung function from exposure to aerosolized Florida Red-Tide toxins in asthmatic subjects, particularly among those requiring regular therapy with asthma medications. Future studies will assess these susceptible subpopulations in more depth, as well as the possible long-term effects of these toxins.
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recreational exposure to aerosolized brevetoxins during florida Red Tide events
Harmful Algae, 2003Co-Authors: Lorraine C. Backer, Richard H. Pierce, Yung-sung Cheng, Lora E. Fleming, Judy A Bean, Julia Zaias, Janet M Benson, Alan Rowan, Gregory D Bossart, David C JohnsonAbstract:Abstract During two separate Karenia brevis Red Tide events, we measuRed the levels of brevetoxins in air and water samples, conducted personal interviews, and performed pulmonary function tests on people before and after they visited one of two Florida beaches. One hundRed and twenty-nine people participated in the study, which we conducted during Red Tide events in Sarasota and Jacksonville, FL, USA. Exposure was categorized into three levels: low/no exposure, moderate exposure, and high exposure. Lower respiratory symptoms (e.g. wheezing) were reported by 8% of unexposed people, 11% of the moderately exposed people, and 28% of the highly exposed people. We performed nasal–pharyngeal swabs on people who experienced moderate or high exposure, and we found an inflammatory response in over 33% of these participants. We did not find any clinically significant changes in pulmonary function test results; however, the study population was small. In future epidemiologic studies, we plan to further investigate the human health impact of inhaled brevetoxins.
Hae Jin Jeong - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A hierarchy of conceptual models of Red-Tide generation: Nutrition, behavior, and biological interactions
Harmful Algae, 2015Co-Authors: Hae Jin Jeong, An Suk Lim, Peter Franks, Kyung Ha Lee, Ji Hye Kim, Nam Seon Kang, Moo Joon Lee, Hyeon Jang, Sung Yeon Lee, Eun Young YoonAbstract:Abstract Red Tides – discolorations of the sea surface due to dense plankton blooms – occur regularly in coastal and offshore waters along much of the world's coastline. Red Tides often cause large-scale mortalities of fish and shellfish and significant losses to the aquaculture and tourist industries of many countries. Therefore, understanding and pRedicting the mechanisms controlling the outbreak, persistence, spread, and decline of Red Tides are important concerns to scientists, officials, industry, and the public. With increasing knowledge of Red-Tide species and Red-Tide events, new mechanisms have been discoveRed. Based on the nutrition and behaviors of Red-Tide organisms and biological interactions among them, Red-Tide outbreaks can be categorized into a hierarchy of four generation mechanisms (GM1–GM4). In the simplest, GM1, all phototrophic Red-Tide species were treated as exclusively autotrophic organisms without the ability to swim. However, this GM cannot explain Red-Tide outbreaks in oligotrophic surface waters offshore. Vertical migration (consideRed in GM2) and mixotrophy (GM3) enable Red-Tide flagellates to acquire growth factors from nutrient-rich deep waters or co-occurring prey, respectively. In natural environments, all Red Tides occur by those species outgrowing co-occurring organisms; Red-Tide species dominate communities by eliminating other species or Reducing their abundances. Thus, GM4 contains the direct biological interactions (i.e., inhibition by physical contact or chemical effects) and indirect biological interactions (i.e., acquiring resources faster than others) that can affect the dominance of Red-Tide species under given conditions. Correctly choosing one of these four GMs for Red Tides dominated by one causative species is important because the accuracy of pRedictions may be outweighed by the costs and time requiRed to acquire the relevant information. In this study, mechanisms describing the outbreak, persistence, and decline of Red Tides were reviewed, the advantages and limitations of each mechanism were evaluated, and insights about the evolution of the mechanisms were developed.
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Interactions between marine bacteria and Red Tide organisms in Korean waters
ALGAE, 2013Co-Authors: Kyeong Ah Seong, Hae Jin JeongAbstract:There is increasing interest in the relationships between marine bacteria and Red Tide organisms. Some bacteria are known to kill Red Tide organisms, and may be responsible for accelerating the termination of Red Tides. Thus, certain algicidal bacteria have been proposed for the control of Red Tides. Meanwhile, many Red Tide organisms are known to feed on marine bacteria. The roles of marine bacteria and Red Tide organisms are therefore reversible. In Korean waters, the killing of Red Tide organisms by algicidal bacteria, and also the feeding of Red Tide organisms on marine bacteria have been extensively investigated. The findings of such studies may influence the conventional view of Red Tide dynamics, and also planktonic food webs. Here, we review the species and concentrations of algicidal bacteria that kill Red Tide organisms in Korean waters, as well as the ingestion rate and grazing impact of Red Tide organisms on marine bacteria. Furthermore, we offer an insight into the ecological roles of these 2 components in marine planktonic food webs.
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Feeding by Red-Tide dinoflagellates on the cyanobacterium Synechococcus
Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 2005Co-Authors: Hae Jin Jeong, Kyeong Ah Seong, Jae Yeon Park, Myung Ok Park, Jeong Hyun Ha, Chang Jeng, Chi Nam SeongAbstract:We investigated the feeding by 18 Red-Tide dinoflagellate species on the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. We also calculated grazing coefficients by combining the field data on abundances of the dinoflagellates Prorocentrum donghaiense and P. micans and co-occurring Synechococcus spp. with laboratory data on ingestion rates obtained in the present study. All 17 cultuRed Red-Tide dinoflagellates tested (Akashiwo sanguinea, Alexandrium catenella, A. minutum, A. tamarense, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Gonyaulax polygramma, G. spinifera, Gymnodinium catenatum, G. impudicum, Heterocapsa rotundata, H. triquetra, Karenia brews, Lingulodinium polyedrum, Prorocentrum donghaiense, P. minimum, P. micans, and Scrippsiella trochoidea) were able to ingest Synechococcus. Also, Synechococcus cells were observed inside the protoplasms of P. triestinum cells collected from the coastal waters off Shiwha, western Korea, during Red Tides dominated by the dinoflagellate in July 2005. When prey concentrations were 1.1 to 2.3 x 10 6 cells ml -1 , the ingestion rates of these cultuRed Red-Tide dinoflagellates on Synechococcus sp. (1.0 to 64.2 cells dinoflagellate -1 h -1 ) generally increased with increasing size of the dinoflagellate pRedators (equivalent spherical diameters = 5.2 to 38.2 μm). The ingestion rates of P. donghaiense and P. micans on Synechococcus sp. increased with increasing mean prey concentration, with saturation occurring at a mean prey concentration of approximately 1.1 to 1.4 × 10 6 cells ml -1 . The maximum ingestion and clearance rates of P. micans on Synechococcus sp. (38.2 cells dinoflagellates -1 h -1 and 4.3 μl dinoflagellate -1 h -1 ) were much higher than those of P. donghaiense on the same prey species (7.7 cells dinoflagellate -1 h -1 and 2.6 μl dinoflagellates -1 h -1 ). The ingestion rates of Red-Tide dinoflagellates on Synechococcus sp. were comparable to those of the heterotrophic nanoflagellates and ciliates on Synechococcus spp., so far reported in the literature. The calculated grazing coefficients attributable to small Prorocentrum spp. (P. donghaiense + P. minimum) and P. micans on co-occurring Synechococcus spp. were up to 3.6 and 0.15 h -1 , respectively. The results of the present study suggest that Red-Tide dinoflagellates potentially have a considerable grazing impact on populations of Synechococcus.
Barbara Kirkpatrick - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The art of Red Tide science
Harmful algae, 2012Co-Authors: Emily R. Hall, Kate Nierenberg, Anamari J. Boyes, Cynthia A. Heil, Leanne J. Flewelling, Barbara KirkpatrickAbstract:Over the years, numerous outreach strategies by the science community, such as FAQ cards and website information, have been used to explain blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis that occur annually off the west coast of Florida to the impacted communities. Many state and federal agencies have turned to funded research groups for assistance in the development and testing of environmental outreach products. In the case of Florida Red Tide, the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute/Mote Marine Laboratory (MML) Cooperative Red Tide Agreement allowed MML to initiate a project aimed at developing innovative outreach products about Florida Red Tide. This project, which we coined “The Art of Red Tide Science,” consisted of a team effort between scientists from MML and students from Ringling College of Art and Design. This successful outreach project focused on Florida Red Tide can be used as a model to develop similar outreach projects for equally complex ecological issues.
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review of florida Red Tide and human health effects
Harmful Algae, 2011Co-Authors: Lora E. Fleming, Cathy J. Walsh, Kate Nierenberg, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, John D Clark, Julie Hollenbeck, Janet M Benson, Yung-sung ChengAbstract:This paper reviews the literature describing research performed over the past decade on the known and possible exposures and human health effects associated with Florida Red Tides. These harmful algal blooms are caused by the dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, and similar organisms, all of which produce a suite of natural toxins known as brevetoxins. Florida Red Tide research has benefited from a consistently funded, long-term research program, that has allowed an interdisciplinary team of researchers to focus their attention on this specific environmental issue—one that is critically important to Gulf of Mexico and other coastal communities. This long-term interdisciplinary approach has allowed the team to engage the local community, identify measures to protect public health, take emerging technologies into the field, forge advances in natural products chemistry, and develop a valuable pharmaceutical product. The review includes a brief discussion of the Florida Red Tide organisms and their toxins, and then focuses on the effects of these toxins on animals and humans, including how these effects pRedict what we might expect to see in exposed people.
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Florida Red Tide perception: Residents versus tourists
Harmful algae, 2010Co-Authors: Kate Nierenberg, Margaret M. Byrne, Lora E. Fleming, Wendy Stephan, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, Elvira Tanga, Dana Dalpra, Barbara KirkpatrickAbstract:The west coast of Florida has annual blooms of the toxin-producing dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis with Sarasota, FL consideRed the epicenter for these blooms. Numerous outreach materials, including Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) cards, exhibits for local museums and aquaria, public beach signs, and numerous websites have been developed to disseminate information to the public about this natural hazard. In addition, during intense onshore blooms, a great deal of media attention, primarily via newspaper (print and web) and television, is focused on Red Tide. However to date, the only measure of effectiveness of these outreach methods has been counts of the number of people exposed to the information, e.g., visits to a website or number of FAQ cards distributed. No formal assessment has been conducted to determine if these materials meet their goal of informing the public about Florida Red Tide. Also, although local residents have the opinion that they are very knowledgeable about Florida Red Tide, this has not been verified empirically. This study addressed these issues by creating and administering an evaluation tool for the assessment of public knowledge about Florida Red Tide. A focus group of Florida Red Tide outreach developers assisted in the creation of the evaluation tool. The location of the evaluation was the west coast of Florida, in Sarasota County. The objective was to assess the knowledge of the general public about Florida Red Tide. This assessment identified gaps in public knowledge regarding Florida Red Tides and also identified what information sources people want to use to obtain information on Florida Red Tide. The results from this study can be used to develop more effective outreach materials on Florida Red Tide.
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aerosolized Red Tide toxins brevetoxins and asthma
Chest, 2007Co-Authors: Lora E. Fleming, Richard H. Pierce, Yung-sung Cheng, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Andrew Reich, Lorraine C. Backer, Judy A Bean, Adam Wanner, Julia Zaias, Jerome NaarAbstract:Abstract Background: With the increasing incidence of asthma, there is increasing concern over environmental exposures that may trigger asthma exacerbations. Blooms of the marine microalgae, Karenia brevis , cause Red Tides (or harmful algal blooms ) annually throughout the Gulf of Mexico. K brevis produces highly potent natural polyether toxins, called brevetoxins , which are sodium channel blockers, and possibly histamine activators. In experimental animals, brevetoxins cause significant bronchoconstriction. In humans, a significant increase in self-reported respiratory symptoms has been described after recreational and occupational exposures to Florida Red-Tide aerosols, particularly among individuals with asthma. Methods: Before and after 1 h spent on beaches with and without an active K brevis Red-Tide exposure, 97 persons ≥ 12 years of age with physician-diagnosed asthma were evaluated by questionnaire and spirometry. Concomitant environmental monitoring, water and air sampling, and personal monitoring for brevetoxins were performed. Results: Participants were significantly more likely to report respiratory symptoms after K brevis Red-Tide aerosol exposure than before exposure. Participants demonstrated small, but statistically significant, decreases in FEV 1 , midexpiratory phase of forced expiratory flow, and peak expiratory flow after exposure, particularly among those participants regularly using asthma medications. No significant differences were detected when there was no Florida Red Tide ( ie , during nonexposure periods). Conclusions: This study demonstrated objectively measurable adverse changes in lung function from exposure to aerosolized Florida Red-Tide toxins in asthmatic subjects, particularly among those requiring regular therapy with asthma medications. Future studies will assess these susceptible subpopulations in more depth, as well as the possible long-term effects of these toxins.