Analysis of a Toxic Alga in Stasis

Rose Anne Cattolico, Department of Biology, University of Washington

R/B-42

The ability of many toxic algae to enter stasis is essentially unstudied at the molecular and biochemical levels. These metabolically quiescent cells can form "seed beds" in coastal sediments, as well as move to new geographic locations via natural currents or ships’ ballast water. Thus, their occurrence presents a significant challenge in coastal ecosystem management. The long-term goals of this project are to generate life-history specific DNA probesfor the toxic dinoflaggelate Heterosigma, to correlate genetic identity and physiological responses with toxicity and to apply the data from Heterosigma to other toxic members of the taxon Raphidophyceae.