Monitoring

A) Intensive sampling at “hot spots”  involves monitoring at areas where either fish lesions, fish kills, or HABs have been noted or, based on (sub)urban sprawl, HABs may be expected to occur (Table below). Sampled variables include salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients (NO₃/NO₂, NH₄, PO₄, TN, TP, DON, DOP, DOC, DIC, Si, urea), chlorophyll a, HPLC pigments for phytoplankton community composition, fixed samples for microscopic analysis of phytoplankton community composition, microzooplankton, HAB identification and abundance, Pfiesteria-Like Organism (PLO) abundance, PCR of several species, brevetoxin ELISA assay (if raphidophytes observed), microcystin ELISA assay (if Microcystis or other relevant cyanobacteria observed), virus abundance, fecal coliform bacteria concentration, and triazine herbicides. Also, sediment nutrients, chlorophyll a, and HAB identification are collected at selected sites.

B) Statewide spatial sampling: Expands ongoing monitoring program by SCDHEC and SCDNR (SCDNR/SCDHEC joint South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program, SCECAP), providing a strong complimentary characterization of environmental and biological properties at 60 sites.  The SCECAP samples 30 sites from tidal creeks and 30 from open estuaries, locations randomized annually, and obtains physical parameters (continuous monitoring using deployed Hydrolabs), chlorophyll a, HPLC pigments, PO₄, Si, sediment contaminants, bioassays (Microtox, Mercenaria, amphipod), porewater NH4, TOC, bottom trawls (finfish species composition, abundance, and biomass), fish tissue analysis, and juvenile ichthyoplankton sleds (for recreational fish). 

C) The Southeast Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (S.L. Morton, NOS Biotoxicology): A volunteer network made up of conservation groups and high school marine biology courses has been established to help enhance outreach of the HAB issue and expand the spatial coverage of HAB surveillance.