The detected HAB species cover several taxonomic classes, including dinoflagellates Amphidinium carterae, Gymnodinium aureolum, Prorocentrum lima and Alexandrium sp., raphidophytes Chattonella subsalsa and Heterosigma akashiwo, haptophyte Prymnesium parvum, and cyanobacteria Planktothrix agardhii, Lyngbya aestuarii. In many cases, the HABs accounted for > 60% to 98% of total algal abundance, and cell density reached as high as 103 to 104 cell/mL for dinoflagellates and 105 cells/mL for Prymnesium parvum. A follow-up study, using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), detected five types of algal toxins, including brevetoxin, saxitoxin, okadaic acid, microsytins, and cylindrospermopsins in the SMPs.

Only the toxin-producer HAB species identified in this project are listed on this page. Additionally, two non-toxin producing species were included due to their unusual morphological features.