Benthic cyanobacterial bloom impacts the reefs of South Florida (Broward County, USA)

Benthic cyanobacteria of the genus Lyngbya can form prominent mats and blooms in tropical and subtropical coral reef and seagrass habitats worldwide. A Lyngbya bloom on the reef tract offshore of Broward County, Florida, was first noted in 2002, and although it is seasonally variable in its distribu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Coral reefs 2005-12, Vol.24 (4), p.693-697
Main Authors: PAUL, Valerie J, THACKER, Robert W, BANKS, Kenneth, GOLUBIC, Stjepko
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Cyanobacteria
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Lyngbya
Lyngbya confervoides
Marine
Ribosomal DNA
Sea water ecosystems
Synecology
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Summary:Benthic cyanobacteria of the genus Lyngbya can form prominent mats and blooms in tropical and subtropical coral reef and seagrass habitats worldwide. A Lyngbya bloom on the reef tract offshore of Broward County, Florida, was first noted in 2002, and although it is seasonally variable in its distribution and abundance, it has persisted and spread over the past 3 years. In this study, the most abundant species of Lyngbya found in the blooms have been identified and compared to other species of Lyngbya by morphological and molecular methods. The most common species of Lyngbya is consistent with the properties of Lyngbya confervoides C. Agardh. The 16S ribosomal DNA sequence shares 88-92% identity with other known Lyngbya sequences, suggesting that this bloom consists primarily of a new, previously unsequenced species of Lyngbya. The second most common Lyngbya in the bloom is consistent with Lyngbya polychroa. This persistent bloom is a concern because it smothers octocorals and other invertebrates and negatively impacts these southeastern Florida reefs.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0722-4028
1432-0975
DOI:10.1007/s00338-005-0061-x