Ángel Ramón Moreira-González

Blooms of the marine dinoflagellate Vulcanodinium rugosum have been associated with skin lesion outbreaks in Cuba and elsewhere. In this study, cell growth and toxin production were investigated under laboratory-controlled conditions in two strains isolated from Cienfuegos Bay, Cuba. Strains were cultured with and without a mechanical agitation and toxins were analyzed at two stages of the culture growth (exponential and stationary). Although blooms in Cienfuegos Bay occur in a semi-enclosed system characterized by calm waters with no agitation, the results of this study suggest that V. rugosum cells may also exhibit growth capacity under agitated conditions, or in open waters, comparable to that observed in systems with low hydrodynamic energy. Higher toxin levels, as determined by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), were detected after exponential growth. Portimine-A and pinnatoxin-F (PnTX-F) were the dominant toxins (up to 1.75 and 1.0 pg·cell⁻¹, respectively). PnTX-E, -D and Portimine-B were also detected at minor concentrations. This study contributes the first data necessary for a proper interpretation of monitoring programs aiming to assess the impact of V. rugosum blooms, particularly when used alongside forecasting models.

Harmful algal blooms can have negative consequences on the health, economy, and biological diversity of marine ecosystems. In the province of Cienfuegos, located in south-central Cuba, different bloom events have occurred in the bay of the same name, with a negative impact on the health and economy of the locality, as well as of the country. The objective of this research project was to design and implement a surveillance and management system of these events in the province of Cienfuegos, with the purpose of having well-defined intersectoral action mechanisms for the occurrence of these microorganisms, based on the principles of Integrated Management of Coastal Zones. During 2021, bloom events of these algae were scientifically confirmed; consequently, a workshop was developed for the design and proposal of this system, using the criteria of key specialists in the management of these events in the territory. The main characteristic of the monitoring and management system was to guarantee the integration of the sectors in the province related to this problem. This system was divided into five stages: surveillance, communication, system activation, direct management, and impact assessment. In October 2021, the system was implemented with satisfactory results after a bloom of the dinoflagellate Vulcanodinium rugosum. The implementation of this system contributed to mitigate the impacts of harmful algal blooms in different development sectors in the province of Cienfuegos.

The pelagic macroalgae finches of the Sargassum genus in the Caribbean Sea currently represent a very natural problem due to their negative impact on the tourism industry, fishing industry, the environment and society in general. This work presents an above report of Sargassum that occurred on the north western coast of the Cuban archipelago in March 2019. The macroalgae species identified in the tidal zone were Sargassum fluitans and S. natans, and the specific geographic area where the impact of the upheaval occurred was from the west of Matan-zas bay to Mariel bay. The finches of these macroalgae were cataloged with a moderate magnitude compared to other reports in the Mexican Caribbean and in the Dominican Republic. This order of magnitude was cataloged based on its covered area of 169.3 km and its distribution along the coast in large patches, but very fragmented, despite the prevailing winds from the first quadrant (from north to east) during this period. Other events of this type reported in Cuba and the Caribbean region are taken up and discussed. Keywords: Caribbean Sea, Sargassum fluitans, Sargassum natans, Cuba.

Revista da Gest?o Costeira Integrada

In order to investigate the identity, abundance and toxicity of a distinctive Ostreopsis species present in the southern-central coast of Cuba, Ostreopsis field populations were examined during January-September of 2010. The morphological and partial LSU phylogenetic data suggested the presence of O. lenticularis, although a very close species like O. labens could not be discarded. Results indicated the presence of palytoxin-like molecules in a natural extract at concentration of 0.12 pg/cell. Ostreopsis populations were very stable through the course of the study, and a maximum of 7.9 × 104 cells/g of macroalgae fresh weight was recorded on June.

Ceramium fujianum Barros-Barreto et Maggs has been collected for the first time outside Brazil, its type-locality. The species is distinguished from similar species by the presence of tetrasporangia covered by cortical cells. This represents the first report of the taxon for the Cuban archipelago as well as the entire Caribbean region.