The marine food web is built upon a foundation of microscopic algae, or phytoplankton. Yet, under certain conditions, some of these single-celled organisms can proliferate into massive, toxic blooms that threaten entire ecosystems. Along the California coast, blooms of the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia release a potent neurotoxin—domoic acid—which accumulates in the food web, causing devastating mass mortality events in sea lions, seabirds, and other marine life.

Predicting when and where these Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) will become toxic remains a fundamental challenge for ocean science and resource management. This project addresses this challenge through a unique collaboration, pairing an agile sailing research vessel with a major oceanographic ship. By combining wide-area reconnaissance with cutting-edge molecular science, we are probing the very triggers of toxicity to better safeguard our coastal ecosystems.

Project Objectives

Our research integrates a multi-platform strategy with advanced laboratory techniques to link environmental conditions to the genetic expression of toxicity. The project is defined by three core objectives:

• Execute Rapid, Wide-Area Bloom Detection: Leveraging the efficiency and range of a wind-powered research vessel, we conduct broad-scale surveys across Monterey Bay. The primary goal is to identify and map emerging phytoplankton bloom hotspots in near real-time, directing the targeted efforts of the larger research fleet.
• Uncover the Molecular Basis of Toxicity: Once a bloom is located, a collaborative research team performs a deep-dive analysis using genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. This allows us to move beyond simply counting cells to unravel the genetic and metabolic pathways that cause a harmless algal bloom to become toxic.
• Integrate Environmental and Genetic Data: We will synthesize our field observations of ocean conditions with the detailed molecular data from the laboratory. The ultimate aim is to build a more complete ecological model of Pseudo-nitzschia blooms, linking specific environmental cues to the genetic onset of toxin production.

Scientific Innovation and Broader Impacts

The primary innovation of this project is its nimble, two-tiered operational model. This synergistic approach—using a sailboat for efficient scouting to direct the powerful analytical capabilities of a major research vessel—maximizes scientific return and represents a highly effective new paradigm for studying ephemeral ocean phenomena.

The impacts of this work are critical for coastal health. The data generated will provide resource managers and public health officials with a clearer understanding of bloom toxicity, informing fisheries closures and efforts to respond to marine mammal stranding events. On a broader scale, this research builds the foundation for a predictive early-warning system for toxic events, aiming to mitigate the devastating ecological and economic consequences of HABs along the U.S. West Coast and in vulnerable coastal regions worldwide.