Water quality conditions in Old Tampa Bay have lagged behind other bay segments, in part, due to recurring summer blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense. Through routine and event-response monitoring, both the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have regularly observed Pyrodinium bahamense blooms in this bay segment over the past 20 years. In order to better inform resource management activities, this project characterized the seeding potential of Pyrodinium cyst beds in Old Tampa Bay. The project identified two primary drivers of bloom initiation: cyst abundance and favorable temperature conditions for cyst germination.
