|
||
A water sample collected 4/28/08 by DNR from monitoring station LE 2.2 located near the mouth of the Potomac river, contained 5,588 cells/ml of Prorocentrum minimum at the water surface. Prorocentrum blooms at levels approaching 3,000 cells/ml and greater typically give the water a reddish tinge, and are referred to locally as a Mahogany tide.' These blooms typically begin in the mid-bay sometime in April and reach peak distribution in May. While not unexpected, bloom concentrations for Prorocentrum are monitored closely, as this toxic dinoflagellate has historically been implicated in fish and shellfish kills in many waterways around the world.
|