The prolonged 2017-2018 red tide bloom of Karenia brevis along western Florida is the largest such bloom in over 10 years. This event, as is the case with many such events, appears to be an outcome of increasingly complex nutrient pollution and extreme precipitation events. Nutrient loads are increasing with increased population together with agricultural activities. The fact that nutrient loads have generally increased is, in itself, insufficient for the promotion of HABs. Nutrients are changing in proportion and form, and many HABs have a diverse suite of mechanisms by which they can access their requisite nutrients. Many HABs, including K. brevis, are mixotrophic, and feeding may help to prolong blooms. Extreme precipitation events, such as those from hurricane events, deliver nutrients in pulses, and once blooms have become established, nutrients can remain in the system through regeneration processes. Nutrients may also enhance growth of the prey upon which mixotrophic K. brevis may feed. The recent prolonged red tide of Florida exemplifies the complexities of interactions of climate changes, extreme precipitation events and complex nutrient forms available to sustain the bloom and the challenges of both modeling and mitigating such phenomena. Progress is advancing in incorporating mixotrophic phenomena in spatial explicit models.

Complexity of nutrients and extreme events supporting harmful algal blooms: Karenia brevis as a case study

2019 Spring National Meeting

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