Alexandrium cyst abundance in Nootka Sound aquaculture and towns

Senior thesis written for Oceanography 445

[author abstract] This study measures the number of Alexandrium cysts from samples collected near fish farms found in Nootka Sound in December of 2015. This measurement can indicate the health of the marine environment and presence of a potential bloom due to the possible high concentrations of nutrients produced by fish farms causing a higher population of cysts. Stations closest to fish farms and towns had higher levels of Alexandrium cysts 275 cyst/cc to 575 cyst/cc. In conclusion this study established two things: 1) it supported previous findings that Alexandrium cysts are found in areas of fine grain material due their similarities in disposition, and 2) fish farms and towns had a greater amount of Alexandrium cysts possibly due to heightened nutrients.

University of Washington School of Oceanography