RED TIDE PROGRAM 



David V, Aldrich, Acting Program Leader 



In a year during which Florida escaped serious red-tide damagej we 

 continued to study the characteristics of Gymnodinium breve, the Florida red- 

 tide flagellate, 3Jid its environment. The results show that: (1) the survived 

 of this organism is favored by the relative stability of hydrologiced conditions 

 in deeper waters, where a low resident population seems to subsist between 

 outbreaks; (2) G, breve cannot utilize organic substances for growth in the ab- 

 sence of light; and (3) natural levels of the classical phytoplankton nutrients, 

 phosphate and nitrate, are not clearly related to the blooming of this organism. 

 The third point is of particular interest in emphasizing the lack of information 

 regarding the basis of sea-water fertility. Previous G. breve nutrition studies 

 indicate metal and vitaxnin or amino acid growth requirements. Continuing 

 study of the natural levels of nitrogen in its various forms may help to throw 

 some light on the importance of cimino acids. 



IS IK 



ISIS 



tfi rrr 



liif! 



I ill! 

 IIHf 



MSl! 



iiil 



N 



! ^ rr ■■ 



f 



Field station at St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. 



56 



