Manual on Harmful Marine Microalgae. 2nd revised edition.

Abstract

Following a general introduction on harmful algal blooms, the Manual proper is composed of four parts: Methods, Taxonomy, Monitoring and Management, and Appendices. The Methods section covers oceanographic field-sampling techniques, algal-culture methods, cell counting, the use of antibody and DNA probes, instru- mental toxin-analysis techniques for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), ciguatoxins and cyanobacterial toxins, as well as biochemical methods and mammalian bioassays for selected algal toxins. Cyst methodologies are also included. The Taxonomy section starts with a general introduction on ‘what is a species’, followed by detailed accounts of the taxonomy of dinoflagellates, haptophytes, diatoms, raphidophytes, cyanobacteria and cysts. The Monitoring and Management section covers environ- mental monitoring, management of shellfish resources and finfish aquaculture, as well as epidemiology and public health. Lastly, in the Appendices, the reader will find a listing of algal-culture collections and addresses of international and regional agencies involved with harmful algal bloom studies. For some related topics the reader is also referred to the handbooks by Sournia (1978) (available stock almost exhausted), Parsons et al. (1984), and the conference proceedings mentioned above.