NESP MaC 5.14: Harmful Algal Bloom Composition and Toxicity in South Australia

A severe harmful algal bloom involving Karenia species has affected large areas of the South Australian coastline, including Gulf St Vincent, Spencer Gulf and Investigator Strait. This project provides a rapid assessment dataset combining microscopy, qPCR-based species identification, rotifer bioassays, and brevetoxin screening. Outputs include baseline information on bloom toxicity and variability, species composition data, and a foundational dataset linking Karenia community structure with toxicological response.

Use Cases

• Model bloom toxicity and variability based on integrated field, water-quality, and toxicology data.
• Identify and quantify Karenia species composition based on microscopy and qPCR analyses.
• Assess aquatic toxicity pathways based on rotifer bioassays and brevetoxin screening results.
• Support long-term monitoring and marine environmental management based on foundational datasets linking community structure with toxicological response.

Strengths

• Dataset integrates multiple analysis methods: microscopy, qPCR, rotifer bioassays, and brevetoxin screening.
• Broadscale water sampling targets areas of bloom spread and prolonged exposure across multiple gulfs and straits.
• Sampling strategy is informed by satellite chlorophyll maps and field observations.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to data_gov_au, focusing solely on South Australian coastal areas.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Broadscale water sampling combined with microscopy, qPCR-based species identification, rotifer bioassays, and brevetoxin screening.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-04 08:48:54.739198; freshness should be verified.

Geography

South Australian coastline, including Gulf St Vincent, Spencer Gulf and Investigator Strait.