September 6, 2024 — Collin Roesler wants us to have a better understanding of the algae that cause red tides in Maine.
A professor in the Earth and Oceanographic Science Department at Bowdoin College, she studies phytoplankton, notably Alexandrium fundyense. This single-celled marine plant is the source of a neurotoxin that can contaminate shellfish such as mussels, clams and oysters. People who consume shellfish tainted by the toxin can experience paralytic shellfish poisoning, which can be fatal.
One of her current research projects is focused on Alexandrium in Harpswell Sound and in Lombos Hole, near the head of the sound. Her work is unlocking information that has implications for efforts to monitor and predict serious red tide events.