Harmful Algal Bloom and Pathogen Abundance Data from Puget Sound Biosensors

The Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) autonomously collects and analyzes water samples in Puget Sound, telemetering results in near real-time. Probes for three primary harmful algae (Alexandrium, Heterosigma, and Pseudo-nitzschia) and pathogenic Vibrio spp. have been successfully tested. This project aims to provide value-added data to stakeholders for early warning systems to reduce economic losses and improve seafood safety.

Use Cases

• Predict harmful algal bloom (HAB) events based on near real-time abundance data for Alexandrium, Heterosigma, and Pseudo-nitzschia.
• Monitor pathogenic Vibrio spp. (V. parahaemolyticus) levels for seafood safety assessments.
• Improve risk models for marine toxins and pathogens by incorporating automated biosensor data.
• Provide early warning for developing HABs to control impacts on fish and shellfish.

Strengths

• Data is collected and telemetered in near real-time, enabling rapid response.
• Probes for three of the four primary HAB organisms in Puget Sound have been successfully used in the field.
• The project is designed to fill specific gaps in current risk and predictive models.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The dataset is described as PDF files, which may not be readily analyzable as structured data.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Data collected autonomously by the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) biosensor system.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-14 22:50:19.266012; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Puget Sound