Alexandrium catenella resting cyst distribution in surface sediments of the northern Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas (2020-2022)

Warming temperatures and seasonal reductions in sea ice coverage and thickness are driving the emergence of harmful algal blooms as a significant concern for the Pacific Arctic region. Large-scale blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella have been observed in recent years, and paralytic shellfish toxins produced by these blooms have been detected widely in regional food webs. Alexandrium is a meroplanktonic species which overwinters in a resting cyst stage, accumulations of these resting cysts in the benthos can provide an inoculum for future blooms. Massive accumulations of cysts, or cyst beds, have been previously identified on the Chukchi Shelf, and continued observation and mapping of these cyst beds is an important component in understanding regional Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) dynamics. This dataset (Alexandrium_BenthicCysts_PacificArctic_2020_2022.csv) compiles Alexandrium cyst abundance measurements across several cruises from 2020-2022, covering locations in the Northern Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas.