A Three-Year Time Series Of Toxic Ostreopsis Blooming In A NW Mediterranean Coastal Site: Preliminary Results

Abstract

Epiphytic dinoflagellates of the genus Ostreopsis have been related to harmful episodes in many Mediterranean coastal areas since 1998: respiratory difficulties, fever, and skin irritations affected people exposed to marine aerosols by recreational activities on the beach. Although this genus is widespread in most of the Mediterranean coasts, harmful events have been recorded only in some localities and periods. One of those sites has been studied for 3 years in a high frequency monitoring (EBITOX project) in order to elucidate the relationship between the microalgal community and its toxicity.