Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture

Consistent patterns of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) events are not evident across the scientific literature, suggesting that local or regional variability is likely to be important in modulating any overall trend. This study summarizes Scotland-wide temporal and spatial patterns in a robust 15-year hig...

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Main Authors: Fatima Gianella, Michael T. Burrows, Sarah C. Swan, Andrew D. Turner, Keith Davidson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.785174/full
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author Fatima Gianella
Michael T. Burrows
Sarah C. Swan
Andrew D. Turner
Keith Davidson
author_facet Fatima Gianella
Michael T. Burrows
Sarah C. Swan
Andrew D. Turner
Keith Davidson
author_sort Fatima Gianella
collection DOAJ
description Consistent patterns of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) events are not evident across the scientific literature, suggesting that local or regional variability is likely to be important in modulating any overall trend. This study summarizes Scotland-wide temporal and spatial patterns in a robust 15-year high temporal frequency time series (2006–2020) of the incidence of HABs and shellfish biotoxins in blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis), collected as part of the Food Standards Scotland (FSS) regulatory monitoring program. The relationship between the countrywide annual incidence of HAB events and biotoxins with environmental variables was also explored. Temporal patterns exhibited interannual variability, with no year-on-year increase, nor any correlation between annual occurrences. Within years, there was a summer increase in bloom frequency, peaking in July for Dinophysis spp. and Pseudo-nitzschia spp., and a plateau from May to July for Alexandrium spp. Temporal-spatial patterns were analyzed with multivariate statistics on data from monitoring sites aggregated monthly into 50-km grid cells, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster K-means analysis. PCA analyses showed correlation between areas with similar temporal dynamics, identifying seasonality as one of the main elements of HAB variability with temporal-spatial patterns being explained by the first and second principal components. Similar patterns among regions in timing and magnitude of blooms were evaluated using K-means clusters. The analysis confirmed that the highest risk from HABs generally occurred during summer, but demonstrated that areas that respond in a similar manner (high or low risk) are not always geographically close. For example, the occurrence of the most prevalent HAB genus, Dinophysis spp., is similar countrywide, but there is a regional trend in risk level with “very-high” and “high” clusters located primarily on the southwest coast, the islands of the central and northern west coast and the Shetland Islands. “Early” and “late” blooms were also associated with certain areas and level of risk. Overall, high risk areas mainly face in a southwest direction, whilst low risk locations face a south or southeast direction. We found relatively few countrywide relationships between environmental variables and HABs, confirming the need for regional analysis to support HAB early warning.
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spelling doaj.art-9b643787a1754c5eaae9de175fb060ae2022-12-22T04:09:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452021-12-01810.3389/fmars.2021.785174785174Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish AquacultureFatima Gianella0Michael T. Burrows1Sarah C. Swan2Andrew D. Turner3Keith Davidson4Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, United KingdomScottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, United KingdomScottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, United KingdomCentre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, United KingdomScottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, United KingdomConsistent patterns of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) events are not evident across the scientific literature, suggesting that local or regional variability is likely to be important in modulating any overall trend. This study summarizes Scotland-wide temporal and spatial patterns in a robust 15-year high temporal frequency time series (2006–2020) of the incidence of HABs and shellfish biotoxins in blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis), collected as part of the Food Standards Scotland (FSS) regulatory monitoring program. The relationship between the countrywide annual incidence of HAB events and biotoxins with environmental variables was also explored. Temporal patterns exhibited interannual variability, with no year-on-year increase, nor any correlation between annual occurrences. Within years, there was a summer increase in bloom frequency, peaking in July for Dinophysis spp. and Pseudo-nitzschia spp., and a plateau from May to July for Alexandrium spp. Temporal-spatial patterns were analyzed with multivariate statistics on data from monitoring sites aggregated monthly into 50-km grid cells, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster K-means analysis. PCA analyses showed correlation between areas with similar temporal dynamics, identifying seasonality as one of the main elements of HAB variability with temporal-spatial patterns being explained by the first and second principal components. Similar patterns among regions in timing and magnitude of blooms were evaluated using K-means clusters. The analysis confirmed that the highest risk from HABs generally occurred during summer, but demonstrated that areas that respond in a similar manner (high or low risk) are not always geographically close. For example, the occurrence of the most prevalent HAB genus, Dinophysis spp., is similar countrywide, but there is a regional trend in risk level with “very-high” and “high” clusters located primarily on the southwest coast, the islands of the central and northern west coast and the Shetland Islands. “Early” and “late” blooms were also associated with certain areas and level of risk. Overall, high risk areas mainly face in a southwest direction, whilst low risk locations face a south or southeast direction. We found relatively few countrywide relationships between environmental variables and HABs, confirming the need for regional analysis to support HAB early warning.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.785174/fullHABshellfish aquaculturemanagementMytilus edulisspatial-temporal trends
spellingShingle Fatima Gianella
Michael T. Burrows
Sarah C. Swan
Andrew D. Turner
Keith Davidson
Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture
Frontiers in Marine Science
HAB
shellfish aquaculture
management
Mytilus edulis
spatial-temporal trends
title Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture
title_full Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture
title_fullStr Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture
title_full_unstemmed Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture
title_short Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Harmful Algae Affecting Scottish Shellfish Aquaculture
title_sort temporal and spatial patterns of harmful algae affecting scottish shellfish aquaculture
topic HAB
shellfish aquaculture
management
Mytilus edulis
spatial-temporal trends
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.785174/full
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