Pfiesteria Monitoring in Texas Estuaries

Pfiesteria piscicida was first identified in 1988 by researchers at North Carolina State University. These organisms and Pfiesteria like organisms (PLO) are presently classified as dinoflagellates and they display very complex life cycles and habits, which are not totally understood at present. Pfiesteria has been implicated as the causative agent in several major fish kills in estuaries of North Carolina and the southeastern United States. It appears that nutrient rich waters tend to be most susceptible to harboring the Pfiesteria fish kills. In addition, Pfiesteria has been purported to cause neurological problems in fisherman and researchers alike. In light of the potential harm these organisms can cause, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department obtained a grant from EPA for a two-year monitoring program to look for Pfiesteria in the bays and estuaries of Texas. In the first year of the program 9 stations were monitored monthly and 8 stations were monitored on a bi-monthly basis from April through September 2000. In addition to the Pfiesteria samples, water samples were collected for nutrient and chlorophyll analyses. Pfiesteria was found at four sites along the Texas coast, those areas being Dickinson Bayou, Port Aransas, Oso Bay and Arroyo Colorado. Two species of Pfiesteria were identified, with P. piscicida found at Dickinson Bayou and P. shumwayae found at the other three stations.