What are golden algae?
Golden algae belong to the Kingdom Protista (microscopic eukaryotic organisms capable of existing as single cells, but more complex than bacteria). The golden algal species that blooms in Texan and Oklahoman waters, Prymnesium parvum (Division: Haptophyta; Class; Prymnesiophyceae), are small (8-10 µm), bi-flagellated cells, with a short haptonema, a flagella-like structure characteristic of all haptophytes that is believed to function in the consumption of bacteria and other protists. [more...]

What causes golden algal blooms?
Like other potentially toxic algal species, under optimal environmental conditions, golden algae can bloom (large scale outgrowths) and eliminate most or all other algal species from a system. Such occurrences are known collectively as Harmful Algal Blooms. Massive algal blooms, regardless of species or whether or not they produce toxins, are not common in natural, pristine ecosystems, but typically arise as a result of anthropogenically-induced increases in plant nutrients, primarily phosphorous and nitrogen. [more...]

Golden algae in Lake Texoma
Golden algae first bloomed in Lake Texoma  during the winter of 2004 (January – March), causing substantial fish kills in several embayments, such as Lebanon Pool and Big Mineral. We know very little regarding factors affecting susceptibility to golden algal toxins of the various sport and recreational fishes in Lake Texoma, nor of the ecological role that golden algae may play [more...]

Golden algal research at UOBS
Beginning in 2005, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) has funded golden algae reseach at the University of Oklahoma. The objective of this research program is to gain understanding of the toxicology of Prymnesium parvum on striped bass and herbivorous zooplankton and how P. parvum serves as a food source for, and competes with, major zooplankton in Lake Texoma. [more...]

Monitoring golden algae in Lake Texoma
The objective of our Lake Texoma monitoring program (funded by ODWC) is to gain understanding of the environmental conditions in Lake Texoma that are conducive to, and prevalent during, Prymnesium parvum blooms.   Specifically, we monitor the lake at selected sites for basic physical, chemical, and biological parameters to allow a better understanding of environmental conditions prevalent in the lake when P. parvum is blooming, but also when P. parvum is absent. [more...]