The Environmental Sample Processor (ESP), http://www.mbari.org/ESP/, is an autonomous biological sensing system that conducts in situ collection and molecular analysis of water samples and telemeters the results to shore in near real-time. The ESP can remotely detect and quantify abundance of target organisms using specific genetic probes. The probe generates a signal in the form of light, and an image of the array is taken using a camera and telemetered to shore for interpretation by experts. The intensity of the light signal is directly proportional to the abundance of the target that is present. Probes for 3 of the 4 primary HAB organisms in Puget Sound (i.e., Alexandrium, Heterosigma, and Pseudo-nitzschia) have already been used successfully on the ESP in the field. When deployed at key locations, the ESP can provide early warning of developing HABs and dramatically increase the opportunity for controlling the impacts of toxic blooms that can kill fish and contaminate shellfish. The goal of this project is to provide value added data to stakeholders in near real-time to improve early warning of HABs thereby reducing HAB-related economic losses and farmed-fish mortality and improving seafood safety. Another goal is to develop and test a method for use with the ESP to detect pathogenic Vibrio spp. (V. parahaemolyticus). Incorporating automated biosensor data into current risk and predictive models for the presence of HAB toxins and pathogens will result in a robust Health Early Warning System (HEWS). This work is designed to fill specific gaps in current risk and predictive models by providing rapid detection and reporting in real time for HABs and pathogens in conjunction with pertinent environmental data.

The project will produce datasets describing the abundance for specific harmful algae and pathogenic bacteria at deployment locations in Puget Sound.