Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc. received a $462,645 cooperative agreement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research Coastal Ocean Program (CFDA 11.478), effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2029. The agreement funds research to identify and characterize Karenia brevis source or seed populations that initiate harmful algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico. The research team will employ advanced molecular techniques including fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) with novel molecular probes to detect low-abundance populations, single cell polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to validate individual cyst identity, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to estimate abundances of K. brevis cysts and vegetative cells in sediment and water column samples.

This research addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding bloom dynamics, specifically the location, form, and environmental triggers of source populations that fuel Karenia brevis bloom development. The project will determine whether multiple source population types exist at various locations and clarify the mechanisms underlying bloom initiation, potentially explaining instances where bloom events decouple from typical West Florida Shelf circulation patterns. Deliverables will include molecular characterization data, population abundance estimates, and scientific findings applicable to harmful algal bloom prediction and management at both targeted and regional scales.