Altamaha Basin > Hydrology > Water Quality > Environmental Threats > Human Impacts > Cultural Features > Coastal Habitats > Tributaries > Plants > Animals > Sapelo Island |
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Disease and Parasites Hematodinium Hematodinium is a parasitic dinoflagellate which attacks shellfish. In Georgia it has caused crab kills in the summers of 1999 and 2000. Hematodinium Links Some Blue Crabs in Georgia struck by blood disease Parasite may be responsible for crab decline Diseases of Shellfish: Hematodinium sp. (Bitter Crab Disease) Hematodinium research: Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus
Pfiesteria piscicida
Pfiesteria piscicida is a toxic dinoflagellate which has been identified as the causative agent in fish kills and lesions on fish in estuaries and coastal areas from Delaware to North Carolina. Thus far, it has not caused a problem in Georgia. It is possible that because of the large tidal amplitudes we have along Georgia's coast that the high water temperatures and relatively stagnant water that characterize areas of Pfiesteria outbreaks will not occur here. However, samples are taken and analyzed by GA DNR Coastal Resources Division at times when water temperatures are high.
Pfiesteria Links
Pfiesteria and Fish Health (MD) Pfiesteria research at VIMS (VA) Background information on Pfiesteria piscicida (NCSU Aquatic Botany Lab) |
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