An overview of freshwater and marine harmful algal blooms

International Conference on Hydrology & Ground Water Expo

September 10-12, 2012 Hilton San Antonio Airport, USA

Paul V. Zimba

Keynote: Hydrol Current Res

Abstract :

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are an international concern in freshwater and marine systems. Both marine and freshwater blooms impact aquatic plants and animals, thereby impacting trophic food webs directly through mortality and indirectly through altered food webs. Freshwater algal toxins include neurotoxins (euglenophycin, saxitoxin, anatoxin, anatoxin-a), cytotoxins (cylindrospermopsins), and hepatotoxin (microcystins) classes. At least 6 types of toxin classes are produced dinoflagellate (and flagellate) marine taxa, with prymnesiophytes and diatoms producing other toxins. This presentation and subsequent talks in this session will provide an overview concerning recent advances in toxin identification and impacts from both freshwater and marine occurrence.

Biography :

Paul V. Zimba serves as Director of the Center for Coastal Studies at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and is an associate professor in the College of Science and Engineering since his appointment in 2009. Previously he worked in Stoneville MS and New Orleans LA as a research microbiologist with the Agricultural Research Service, USDA. Dr. Zimba has published over 90 papers, serves on editorial boards for three journals, and conducts research on algal toxins, phytoplankton and benthic algal ecology, sea grass epiphytes, and remote sensing.