Analysis of Dinoflagellate Species Distribution in the Puget Sound and their Environmental Conditions from 2015-2022

Abstract

Marine dinoflagellates live in conditions that if changed, can create dangerous environments promoting harmful algae blooms (HABs). This study investigates the drivers of species distribution and bloom peaks using data from the Puget Sound Marine Monitoring Program from 2015-2022. Two datasets were processed using Python coding to produce an analysis of concentration and distribution of different genus of dinoflagellates in the Washington Puget Sound; a dataset for sample collections of dinoflagellates at stations in Puget Sound, and a correlating water conditions dataset. The dinoflagellate dataset was directed through an algorithm to group samples by genus classification of species, minimizing risk of data averaging. Grouping samples by genus found 20 identified taxa in the dataset. The second water quality dataset was parsed for salinity, temperature, chlorophyll-a, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen parameters. Connections were drawn by processing data to determine which stations had the highest biovolume for each genus of dinoflagellate, and then cross referencing with water conditions from the second dataset. It was found that Dockton Park, Jefferson Head, and West Point Outfall stations had the highest concentrations of average biovolume, as well as a distinct correlation with a specific genus. Using the water condition parameters, significant correlations were seen between stations. Dockton Park was found to be the station with the highest number of genus that preferred it, correlating with a September bloom, temperatures at approximately 30˚C, as well as September peaks in chlorophyll-a and salinity. West Point Outfall station had a June peak, and Jefferson Head station had an early spring peak in dinoflagellate biovolume. By looking at how different conditions affect dinoflagellates, and what conditions were present where they are typically found, it is clear that changing ocean conditions and potential impacts of on dinoflagellate taxa are high.