Disappearance of a population of pygmy octopus following a harmful algal bloom in a northwestern Florida bay) U.S.A

St. Joseph Bay, Bay County, Florida, U.S.A. is 1 of 4 locations at which the pygmy octopus, Octopus cf. mercatoris, is known to occur. Octopus densities of 1 per 33 m2 were measured and values of catch per day ranging from 1-70 animals were consistently reported between 1972 and 1999. From 17 August 1999 through 14 October 1999, St. Joseph Bay experienced a severe and prolonged harmful algal bloom (HAB) with cell counts reaching 1,000,000 cells/L at its peak. Populations of Octopus cf. mercatoris were devastated during the bloom. Repeated and extensive sampling from September 1999 through February 2004 resulted in the collection of only a single brooding female in February 2003. The molluscs' relatively low fecundity (50-320 eggs/clutch) and benthic early life history reduce the probability of distant re-colonization and slow repopulation by surviving octopus within the Bay. Ongoing changes in land use and loss of critical habitat may further stress the remaining, remnant population, leaving them vulnerable to eradication should another HAB event occur. ~ I '1