Dr. JoAnn Burkholder, an NC State aquatic botanist, has become the best-known authority on pfiesteria and its environmental effects, but many other scientists are studying the organism. Since this discovery was announced, public concern about pfiesteria has reached a high level, encouraged by television reports and a recent book. Concern is certainly justified, because pfiesteria is potentially a dangerous organism and its abundance in our waters is a troubling symptom of their ill health. But scientific research is finding the answers about pfiesteria, and following this research can help students understand the nature and processes of science. There's considerable progress on all of these questions.
Most dinoflagellates are quite harmless.
They form a large part of the plankton, the floating collection of small marine organisms which is the bottom of the oceanic food chain. However, some dinoflagellates are toxic, producing powerful nerve poisons dangerous to fish and even to people. Red tides are a problem in coastal waters in many parts of the world, but only rarely in North Carolina. Red tide dinoflagellates produce poisons to deter fish from eating them. Scientists are convinced that pfiesteria is not a recent invader.