Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

International Journal of Oceanography and Hydrobiology

Volume 42, Issue 1

ISSN 1730-413X (40–45)

eISSN 1897- 3191 2013

DOI: 10.2478/s13545-013-0055-1 Received: August 17, 2011

Original research paper Accepted: September 03, 2012

the bloom region was 14.1 µg l-1. Nutrient concentrations of the

bloom area were 0.01 µmol l-1 for NO2-N, 0.1 µmol l-1 for NO3-
Occurrence of a multi-species diatom N, 0.83 µmol l-1 for PO4-P and 11.44 µmol l-1 for SiO4.
bloom dominated by Proboscia alata
(Brightwell) Sandstorm along the INTRODUCTION
southwest coast of India Phytoplankton play an important role as
primary producers in marine ecosystems and they
form the basis of the marine food chain. When
Lathika Cicily, K. B. Padmakumar *, C. R. Asha environmental conditions are favourable these
Devi, V. N. Sanjeevan microalgae can proliferate into enormous
concentrations (up to one million cells l-1) and
obviously discolour the surface of the sea. These
Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Ministry of natural phenomena are termed “Harmful Algal
Earth Sciences, Kochi-37, Kerala, India Blooms” (HABs) or “Red tides”. International
Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES, 1984)
has defined the phytoplankton blooms as those
Key words: Diatom, Harmful Algal Blooms, which are noticeable, particularly to the general
Proboscia alata, southwest coast of India, Pseudo- public, directly or indirectly through their effects
nitzschia spp., Zooplankton such as visible discolouration of water, foam
production, fish or invertebrate mortality, or toxicity
to humans. According to Sournia (1995), of the 5000
Abstract known microalgae species only 300, are so far
identified to produce HABs constituting about 6 -
The present communication reports on the occurrence of a 7% of the whole. Of these, only 1.8 to 1.9% has
multi-species diatom bloom in the upwelled waters along the
southwest coast of India. During the late summer monsoon
been so far identified to be toxic. About 73-75% of
season (September 2009) a multi-species diatom bloom with a these known toxic species are dinoflagellates,
pale green discoloration of the sea surface was observed in the followed by diatoms. Pseudo-nitzschia is the only
coastal waters of southwest coast of India. The bloom spread diatom genus known to produce the potent
over an area of approximately 15 km2 along the coastal waters off neurotoxin domoic acid (DA) (Bates et al. 1998).
Kannur (Lat. 11°59.471 N, Long. 75°03.446 E). Total diatom cell
density of the bloom area was 16 × 104 cells l-1. Proboscia
Domoic acid enters the food chain through filter
(=Rhizosolenia) alata (Brightwell) Sandstrom constituted 90% of feeding organisms such as shellfish or finfish and
the total phytoplankton population. Other phytoplankton groups undergoes bioaccumulation, reaching the higher
that contributed to the bloom population included Chaetoceros trophic levels and causing Amnesic Shellfish
spp., Pseudo-nitzschia spp., Rhizosolenia spp., Coscinodiscus sp., Poisoning (ASP) in humans.
Leptocylindrus danicus, Thalassiosira sp., and Bacteriosira sp. Among
these Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries, a toxic species with the ability to The west coast of India is one of the most
produce potent neurotoxin domoic acid, was observed with a cell biologically productive areas of the world oceans.
density of 4 × 103 cells l-1. Surface chlorophyll a concentration of The biological productivity of the area is influenced
by the seasonally reversing monsoon systems,
* southwest monsoon (June- September) and northeast
Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]

Copyright© of Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Poland

www.oandhs.org
 Proboscia alata bloom along the southwest coast of India| 41

monsoon (November- February). Phytoplankton

blooms triggered by upwelling influenced
eutrophication is common in world oceans (Kudela
et al. 2005), and also along the west coast of India
(Banse et al. 1996). Since 1998, as a part of the
regular monitoring of the algal blooms in the Indian
Exclusive Economic Zone, Ministry of Earth
sciences, Government of India have been conducting
regular oceanic cruises for the study of HAB
dynamics in the Indian EEZ. There are many
available reports on the dinoflagellate and
cyanobacterial blooms in the Indian EEZ (Prakash
and Sarma 1964; Devassy et al. 1978; Katti et al.
1988; Naqvi et al. 1998; Jyothibabu et al. 2003;
Anoop et al. 2007; Helga et al. 2008; Padmakumar et
al. 2010, 2011), but diatom blooms are rare and are
represented by Coscinodiscus sp., Fragilaria sp.,
Asterionella japonica and Hemidiscus sp. (Subha Rao
1969, Subramanian and Purushothaman 1985,
Panigrahy and Gouda 1990, Mishra and Panigrahy
1995). The present study reports the occurrence of a
multi-species diatom bloom dominated by Proboscia
alata and highlights the prevalence of toxin producing
diatoms in the coastal waters along the southwest
coast of India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fig. 1. Map showing the study area. (●) represents the
In connection with the monitoring and area where the multispecies diatom bloom was
surveillance of HABs along the southwest coast of observed.
India onboard FORV Sagar Sampada, a multi-species
diatom bloom which caused a pale green the Winkler method (Gaarder and Gran 1927).
discoloration of the sea surface was observed off Chlorophyll a was determined by filtering one litre
Kannur (Lat. 11°59.471 N, Long. 75°03.446 E, Fig. water through GF/F Whatman filter paper. Filter
1), on 28th September 2009. For the qualitative and papers with filtrates were placed in extraction vials
quantitative analysis of phytoplankton, about 50 litres containing 10 ml of 90% acetone. The extractions
of discoloured surface water were collected using a were performed at cold temperatures in the dark over
clean plastic bucket and filtered through 20 µm a 24 hour period. Chlorophyll a was measured
bolting silk. The filtrates were preserved in 1-3% spectrophotometrically (Thermo UV1) according to
neutralized Formalin- Lugol’s iodine solution. the methods described by Parsons et al. (1984).
Quantitative analysis of the phytoplankton was done Nutrients (nitrate, phosphate and silicate) were
using a Sedgwick-Rafter counting chamber under a analysed using a segmented flow Auto Analyzer
Nikon Eclipse microscope. Standard identification (SKALAR) onboard the vessel following standard
books and keys were used for the species level procedures (Grasshoff et al. 1983). Meteorological
identification of diatoms (Cupp 1943, Hasle and parameters were obtained via a continuous
Syvertsen 1997, Hasle 1995). Temperature and Automated Weather Station (AWS).
salinity of the sampling stations were recorded using Mesozooplankton samples were collected from
a Seabird 911 plus CTD. The sea surface temperature mixed layers using the Multiple Plankton Net
(SST) was measured using a bucket thermometer. (Hydrobios) and from the surface using Bongo nets.
Salinity values from the CTD were calibrated against The samples were preserved in 4% formalin prepared
the values obtained using the Guildline Autosal in sea water after determining the biomass by
onboard. Dissolved oxygen was estimated following displacement volume method.

www.oandhs.org
42 | Lathika Cicily, K. B. Padmakumar, C. R. Asha Devi, V. N. Sanjeevan

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

From the microscopic analysis of the bloom

sample it was observed that the genus Proboscia (=
Rhizosolenia) was the dominant constituent of the
bloom area and was represented by Proboscia alata
(Brightwell) Sandstorm, Rhizosolenia calcar-avis and R.
formosa (Fig. 2). Total diatom cell density of the
bloom area was 16 × 104 cells l-1 and Proboscia alata
constituted 90% of the total phytoplankton
population with a cell density of 13 × 104 cells l-1 (Fig.
3). Other diatoms were represented by the genus
Chaetoceros, Pseudo-nitzschia, Coscinodiscus, Leptocylindrus,
Bacteriosira and Thalassiosira. Several species of
Rhizosolenia have been reported as producers of
important blooms in different areas of the world
(Jordan and Priddle 1991, Jordan et al. 1991, Garate
Lizarraga et al. 2003) and some of them form
macroscopic aggregations up to 30 cm in size (Shipe
et al. 1999). Dinoflagellates were scarce and were
represented by Pyrophacus steinii. These levels of Fig. 3. Cell density of phytoplankton in the bloom area.
microalgal abundance and biomass are typical of the
summer diatom blooms in this region. In the
phytoplankton composition of the bloom area, the
toxic diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia was present with
cell density of 4 × 103 cells l-1. The genus Chaetoceros
was represented mainly by C. decipiens, C. coarctatus, C.
didymus and C. compressus (Fig. 4).
The physico-chemical parameters of the bloom
area were conducive for the formation of a diatom
bloom. The sea surface temperature was about

Fig. 4. Percentage composition of the genus

Chaetoceros in the bloom area.

24.5°C and salinity 34 PSU. Low dissolved oxygen

concentration was observed in the surface waters, 3.4
ml l-1, which decreased further in subsurface layers
(0.5 ml l-1). Surface nutrient levels in the bloom
region showed lower values for nitrate (0.1 µmol l-1),
and high concentrations of phosphate (0.4 µmol l-1)
and silicate (11.4 µmol l-1). The vertical distribution
of temperature, salinity, nutrients, and chlorophyll a
is presented in figure 5. With increase in depth, the
nutrient concentration tends to decrease, except for
nitrate which has a peak value in the subsurface
waters. The chlorophyll a concentration in the bloom
region was as high as 14 µg l-1 in the surface waters
and approximately 9.8 µg l-1 in the subsurface waters.
Fig. 2. Percentage composition of the genus The major secondary producers in the bloom
Rhizosolenia in the bloom area. area were polychaete larvae, chaetognaths,

Copyright© of Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Poland

www.oandhs.org
 Proboscia alata bloom along the southwest coast of India| 43

Fig. 5. Vertical distribution of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, nitrate, phosphate, and silicate in
the bloom area.

siphonophores and doliolids. Among these nitzschia, mainly Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries (Hasle)
Polychaete larvae formed about 62% of the total Hasle are known to produce the potent toxin domoic
population (Fig. 6). Upon detailed evaluation it acid and were identified among the bloom
became clear that the common zooplankton groups population. The phytotoxin produced undergoes
such as copepods, decapod larvae and fish larvae are bioaccumulation through the food chain and causes
very few in the bloom area. Low dissolved oxygen in Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). According to
the area might have limited the number of secondary Todd (1993), these species are responsible for human
producers. Moreover, exclusion of these forms due fatality due to Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP)
to inhibiting effects of the diatoms may also have resulting from the HAB. Shellfishes and some
restricted their occurrence. Poulet et al. (1994) have finfishes filter these diatoms from water and these
generalized from experimental evidence that diatoms toxins tends to accumulate in their viscera, causing
have evolved an allelopathic, antipredation strategy risk to the human consumers. ASP is characterized
by which they reduce copepod population levels by by gastrointestinal and neurological disorders in
inhibiting their reproductive success. P. alata is human beings. Recent study on the toxic
known to perform vertical migration across the water phytoplankton species along the coastal waters along
column, thereby utilizing nutrients present in the Goa (Alkawri and Ramaiah 2011) also revealed the
deeper waters, especially nitrate when it is scarce in presence of potentially toxic species of Pseudo-nitzschia
the surface waters (Villareal et al. 1993, 1999). and P. pungens. In the current bloom area though the
Although P. alata dominated this multi-species cell density of Pseudo-nitzschia was lower than that of
diatom bloom, Pseudo-nitzschia spp. was also present Proboscia alata, but when favourable conditions persist
in a significant cell density. Several species of Pseudo- they can break out into intense blooms causing

www.oandhs.org
44 | Lathika Cicily, K. B. Padmakumar, C. R. Asha Devi, V. N. Sanjeevan

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to all the participants of

FORV Sagar Sampada cruise no. 272 for the help
rendered in sampling. This investigation was carried
out under the Marine Living Resources Programme
funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences,
Government of India, New Delhi.

REFERENCES
Alkawri, A.A.S., Ramaiah N. (2011). Distribution of diatom
Pseudo-nitzschia and dinoflagellates of Dinophysis spp along
coast off Goa. Journal of Environmental Biology 32(1): 65-70.
Anoop, A.K., Krishnakumar P.K., Rajagopalan M. (2007).
Trichodesmium erythraeum (Ehrenberg) bloom along the
southwest coast of India (Arabian Sea) and its impact on
trace metal concentrations in seawater. Estuarine Coastal and
Shelf Science 71: 641-646.
Banse, K., Vijayaraghavan S., Madhupratap M. (1996). On the
possible causes of the seasonal phytoplankton blooms along
the west coast of India. Indian J. Mar. Sci. 25: 283-289.
Bates, S.S., Garrison D.L., Horner R.A. (1998). Bloom dynamics
Fig. 6. Percentage composition of various zooplankton and physiology of Domoic acid producing Pseudo-nitzschia
groups in the bloom area. species. In D.M. Anderson, A.D. Cembella and G.M.
Hallegraeff (Eds.) Physiological ecology of harmful algal blooms,
Springer- Verlag, Heidelberg, 267-292.
Cupp, E.E. (1943). Marine plankton diatoms of the west coast of
deleterious effects. The southwest coast of India, North America. Bull. Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Univ.
mainly the Malabar Coast, is a well-known finfish California Press, Berkley and Los Angeles, p 237.
and shellfish harvesting area. Hence, the prevalence Devassy, V.P., Bhattathiri P.M.A., Qasim S.Z. (1978).
of such toxic strains of phytoplankton which can Trichodesmium phenomenon. Indian J. Mar. Sci. 73: 168-186.
cause finfish and shellfish toxicity requires special Gaarder, T., Gran H. H. (1927). Investigations of the production
of plankton in the Oslo Fjord. Rapp. er Proc.-Verb., Cons.
attention. Internat. Explor. Mer., 42: l-48.
Garate-Lizarraga, I., Siquieros Betrones D.A., Maldonado-Lopez
CONCLUSION V. (2003). First record of a Rhizosolenia debyana bloom in the
Gulf of California, Mexico. Pac. Sci. 57: 141-145.
Grasshoff, K., Erhardt M., Kremling K. (1983). Methods of seawater
Mixed diatom blooms occur in coastal waters analysis, Verlag Chemie. Weinheim, Germany, pp 419.
because of the increased nutrient inputs due to Hasle, G.R. (1995). Pseudo-nitzschia pungens and P. multiseries
physical processes like upwelling, terrigenous sources (Bacillariophyceae) - nomenclatural history, morphology and
through river runoff. Certain diatoms, mainly some distribution. J. Phycol. 31: 428-435.
species of Pseudo-nitzschia, are known to produce Hasle, G.R., Syvertsen E.E. (1997). Marine Diatoms. In C.R.
Tomas (Ed.) Identifying Marine Phytoplankton, Academic Press,
potent neurotoxins and were identified in the coastal San Diego
waters off Kannur along the southwest coast of Helga, R.G., Joaquim I.G., Matondkar S.G.P., Sushma G.P.,
India. Since this area is an active fishing zone, such Adnan R.N., Prasad G.T (2008). Blooms of Noctiluca miliaris
blooms are of great concern. The consequences of in the Arabian Sea- An in situ and satellite study. Deep Sea
Research I 55: 751-765.
harmful algal blooms are potentially significant and ICES., 1984, Report of the ICES special meeting on the causes, dynamics
varied, affecting the entire trophic mechanism. and effects of Exceptional Marine Blooms and related events,
Globally, occurrences of algal blooms are increasing. International Council Meeting Paper, 1984/ E, 42 (mimeo).
Even if some of the increase can be attributed to Jordan, R.W., Priddle J. (1991). Fossil members of the diatom
increased monitoring and a change in scientific focus, genus Proboscia. Diatom Research 6: 55-61.
Jordan, R.W., Ligowski R., Nothig E.M., Priddle J. (1991). The
anthropogenic influences like coastal pollution and diatom genus Proboscia in Antarctic waters. Diatom Research 6:
increased use of fertilizers, which reach coastal 63-78.
waters through river runoff, alters the marine Jyothibabu, R., Madhu N.V., Murukesh N., Haridas P.C., Nair
ecosystem and favour the outbreak of algal blooms. K.K.C., Venugopal P. (2003). Intense bloom of Trichodesmium
erythraeum (cyanophyte) in the open waters along east coast of
India. Indian J. Mar. Sci. 32: 165-167.

Copyright© of Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk, Poland

www.oandhs.org
 Proboscia alata bloom along the southwest coast of India| 45

Katti, R.J., Gupta T.R.C., Shetty H.P.C. (1988). On the

occurrence of “green tide” in the Arabian Sea off Mangalore.
Current Science 57: 38-381.
Kudela, R., Pitcher G., Probyn T., Figueiras F., Moita T., Trainer
V. (2005). Harmful algal blooms in coastal upwelling
systems. Oceanography 18: 184-197.
Mishra, S., Panigrahy R.C. (1995). Occurrence of diatom blooms
in Bahuda estuary, East Coast of India. Indian Journal of
Marine Sciences 24: 99-101.
Naqvi, S.W.A., George M.D., Narvekar P.V., Jayakumar D.A., 9
others. (1998). Severe fish mortality associated with red tide
observed in the sea off Cochin. Current Science 75(6): 543-544.
Padmakumar, K.B., Smitha B.R., Lathika Cicily Thomas, Fanimol
C.L., SreeRenjimma G., Menon N.R., Sanjeevan V.N. (2010).
Blooms of Trichodesmium erythraeum in the South Eastern
Arabian Sea during the onset of 2009 Summer Monsoon.
Ocean Science Journal 45(3): 151-157.
Padmakumar, K.B., SreeRenjima G., Fanimol C.L., Menon N.R.,
Sanjeevan V.N. (2010). Preponderance of heterotrophic
Noctiluca scintillans during a multi-species diatom bloom along
the Southwest coast of India. International Journal of Oceans and
Oceanography 4(1): 45-53.
Panigrahy, R.C., Gouda R. (1990) Occurrence of bloom of the
diatom Asterionella glacialis (Castracane) in the Rushikulya
estuary, East Coast of India. Mahasagar 23: 179-182.
Parsons, T.R., Maita Y., Lalli C.M. (1984). A manual of chemical and
biological methods for Seawater analysis. Pergamon Press, New
York, 173 p.
Poulet, S.A., Ianora A., Miralto A., Mejjeii L. (1994). Do diatoms
arrest embryonic development in copepods?. Mar. Ecol. Prog.
Ser. 111: 79-86.
Prakash, A., Sarma A.H.V. (1964). On the occurrence of 'red
water' phenomenon on the west coast of India. Current Science
33(6): 168-170.
Shipe, R.F., Brzezinski M.A., Pilskaln C.H., Villareal T.A. (1999).
Rhizosolenia mats: An overlooked source of silica production
in the open sea. Limnology and Oceanography 44: 1282-1292.
Sournia, A. (1995). Red tide and toxic marine phytoplankton of
the world ocean: an inquiry into biodiversity. In P. Lassus, G.
Arzul, E. Erand, P. Gentien, C. Marcaillou (Eds.) Harmful
Marine Algal Blooms. Lavoisier, Paris: 103-112.
Subha Rao, D.V. (1969). Asterionella japonica bloom and
discolouration off Waltair, Bay of Bengal. Limnology and
Oceanography 14: 632-634.
Subramanian, A., Purushothaman A. (1985). Hemidiscus
hardmanianus bloom and fish mortality. Limnology and
Oceanography 30(4): 910-911.
Todd, E.C.D. (1993). Domoic acid and Amnesic Shellfish
Poisoning- a review. J. Food. Protect. 56: 69-83.
Tomas, C.R. (1997). Identifying Marine Phytoplankton. Academic
Press, USA.
Villareal, T.A., Pilskaln C.H., Brzezinski M.A., Lipschultz F.,
Gardner G.B. (1999). Upward oceanic nitrate transport by
migrating diatom mats. Nature 397: 423-425.
Villareal, T.A., Altabet M.A., Culver-Rymsza K. (1993). Nitrogen
transport by vertically migrating diatom mats in the North
Pacific Ocean. Nature 363: 709-712.

www.oandhs.org