Harmful algal bloom (HAB) species prompt concerns due to their ability to release toxins into the water and instigate severe outcomes to aquatic systems and human health. A proposed environmentally friendly approach to controlling harmful blooms has centered around Shewanella sp. IRI-160, a bacterium that produces an algicidal compound that target a group of toxic algal species, the dinoflagellates. Both Shewanella sp. IRI-160 and toxic dinoflagellates are found in the Delaware Inland Bays (DIB). DinoSHIELD technology was designed to control dinoflagellate growth through the immobilization of Shewanella sp. IRI-160 in alginate hydrogel beads. Little research has been conducted to test the efficacy of DinoSHIELDs on dinoflagellates outside of the laboratory. This study evaluated strategies for the deployment of DinoSHIELDs in the environment at different water flow condition sites. Two trials were conducted, one with a 24-hour deployment period and one with a seven-day deployment period. Results indicated that the deployment of DinoSHIELDs was effective in decreasing the dinoflagellate growth for trial two, though not for trial one. Overall, the deployment of DinoSHIELDs was effective at mitigating the dinoflagellate abundance at the low flow site following a seven-day deployment period. This suggests that DinoSHIELDs could be an applicable approach to controlling the growth of harmful dinoflagellates in the broader environment.

Primary Presenter: Chloe Jones, University of Delaware (chloemj.012@gmail.com)

Authors:

Chloe Jones, University of Delaware  (chloemj.012@gmail.com)

Yanfei Wang, University of Delaware  (yfwang@udel.edu)

Kathryn Coyne, University of Delaware  (kcoyne@udel.edu)

Janet Wei, Rutgers University  (janet.wei9@gmail.com)