Researchers at the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University recently demonstrated that portable DNA sequencing can rapidly identify harmful algal bloom species before they reach destructive levels.
Published in PLOS Water, the study deployed the handheld Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencer across 20 sites in Florida’s 156-mile Indian River Lagoon. By targeting eukaryotic ribosomal RNA genes rather than conventional bacterial markers, the team successfully identified 11 HAB species — including organisms responsible for red and brown tides — even when present in trace concentrations.
A key revelation of the study is that harmful algal species rarely occur in isolation. Instead, multiple toxic species frequently co-occur, pointing to shared environmental drivers or symbiotic interactions that accelerate group proliferation. By pairing real-time genetic identification with environmental variables like salinity, temperature and nutrient flux, the system functions like weather radar for coastal waters. It allows researchers to spot low-abundance populations and community shifts before favorable conditions trigger widespread, visible outbreaks.
This genomic surveillance approach addresses ecological and economic threats, particularly from red tides that produce airborne toxins, kill marine life and disrupt coastal economies. The researchers note that real-time genetic sequencing offers a scalable monitoring tool for marine environments worldwide, where escalating marine heatwaves, shifting nutrient profiles and climate disruptions are amplifying bloom risks across aquatic food webs.
Read more about it at the University of South Florida.
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