Maria Anna Faust dedicated work set the stage for subse- quent environmentally relevant efforts 1930-2021 to inform management decisions. One of her contributions at SERC was a pon- Dr. Maria Anna Faust (neé Spillenberg), few years later. Maria was reassigned toon boat duly named, the Queen Maria. aquatic microbiologist and research and continued her work as aquatic mi- This barge is still afloat and functioning botanist emerita from the Smithsonian crobiologist at the Smithsonian Envi- in the same capacity it was designed for Institution, passed away on April 24, ronmental Research Center (SERC) in – a stable work platform for sampling 2021, at the age of 91 from complica- Edgewater, MD. There her focus was on Muddy Creek and the Rhode River. tions related to a stroke. on a series of prescient water quality In 1983, at a juncture in her career, Maria Anna Spillenberg was born in studies. These included the relationship Maria attended an intensive three-week Budapest, Hungary on April 21, 1930, between land use practices and fecal workshop in Advanced Phytoplankton with her twin sister Marta, to Anna Ma- bacteria in soils, organic carbon release Taxonomy. This was the third in a series ria and George Spillenberg. Her child- by phytoplankton, transport of bacteria of courses which started in 1976 upon hood was spent in a small, close knit in temperate marsh sediments, tidal the recommendation of the SCOR Work- Hungarian village near Budapest. As a transport of microorganisms in brack- ing Group of Phytoplankton Methods young girl, she endured the onset and ish marshes and nutrient fluxes in trib- that was organized in Drobak, Norway duration of World War II. Her father, a utaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Maria’s by the Marine Botany Section of the medical doctor, was called into the Hun- garian military and left his young family behind until after the war. Maria received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951 from the Agricultural University of Budapest where she met Miklos Faust, the love of her life. They wed on July 17, 1954, and welcomed their daughter, Judit, two years later. The onset of the communist political system in Hungary provided many chal- lenges which lead to the abrupt depar- ture of Maria’s family to Yugoslavia in 1957. They remained there in a refugee camp for 20 months awaiting asylum to the United Kingdom, Australia or the United States, whichever country would accept their petition first. Upon arrival to the United States, Maria, Miklos, Judit and Maria’s parents worked toward a new life making their way from humble beginnings. The Faust and Spillenberg families valued education and felt it was a way of securing their futures. Conse- quently, Maria earned a master’s degree in microbiology at Rutgers University in 1962, followed by a doctoral degree in aquatic microbiology at the University of Maryland at College Park in 1970. Maria’s earliest published work (Faust, 1969*) was on the effect of respiratory inhibitors and membrane- active compounds on bacterial motility followed by comparisons between bac- Plate1: Field photos. A. Smithsonian’s Field Station at Carrie Bow Cay (CBC), Belize 2009; B. terial and algal utilization of orthophos- CBC May 2001; C. Smithsonian’s Field Laboratory at Ft. Pierce, FL July 2009; D. CBC May 2004 phate in estuaries. Her research inter- (front row: Marta Nicholas, Maria Faust, Pat Tester, R.J. Chrost; back row: Sabrina Varnam, ests lead to a postdoctoral fellowship Bert Pfieffer, Steve Kibler, Mark Vandersea); E. Celebrating Maria’s birthday at the Smithsoni- at the Smithsonian Radiation Biology an’s Field Laboratory at Ft. Pierce, FL July 2009. (front row Maria, Pat Tester; back row Steve Laboratory (SRBL) in Rockville, MD in Kibler, Chris Holland, Mark Vandersea); F. Maria at the Smithsonian’s Field Station at Carrie Bow Cay (CBC), Belize; G. Maria collecting dinoflagellates at South Water Cay, Belize, May 1971 where Maria worked with Dr. Eliz- 2002; H. Maria isolating dinoflagellates at CBC May 2004; I. Morning exercise, “Give me 10 abeth Gantt. Maria accepted a position more.” CBC May 2003 (Sabrina Varnam, Mark Vandersea, Steve Kibler, Wayne Litaker, Maria); at the SRBL in 1973 but it was closed a J. CBC sunset HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 68 / 2021 19 University of Oslo. There Maria and her cohorts, many of whom would become leaders in their field, spent long days and some long nights under the tute- lage of outstanding instructors, Grethe Hasle (diatoms) with assistance from Eric Syvertsen, Karen Steidinger (dino- flagellates) with assistance from Karl Tangen, Jahn Throndsen (flagellates), and Berit Heimdal (coccolithophores), with lectures from Barrie Dale. From that time forward dinoflagel- late taxonomy and ecology were Maria’s major foci and she never looked back. In 1987 she joined the Department of Botany at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Museum Support Center (NMNH-MSC) in Suit- land, MD where she remained until her retirement in 2009. A series of studies on Prorocentrum (cysts, morphology, growth, photosyn- thesis, descriptions of nine new species) were published from 1985-1993. Much of her material and inspiration was from exploring the mangrove islands of Twin Cays, Belize, near the Smithso- nian’s Carrie Bow Cay Field Station on the Meso-American Barrier Reef system located fifteen miles offshore from Dan- griga. Maria would return there over thirty times in her efforts to understand the taxonomy and ecology of tropical Plate 2: Professional. A. Maria Spillenberg 1953; B. Participants of the SCOR Working Group dinoflagellates more thoroughly. Work on Phytoplankton Methods organized in Drobak, Norway by the Marine Botany Section of the from 1994-1998 included her overview University of Oslo IOC Phytoplankton Course, 1983. Maria is in the front row, sixth from the of benthic, toxic dinoflagellates and a right; C. Graduation from Rutgers University 1962; D. Phycological Society of America. Award review their life histories, broadening of Excellence, Williamsburg, VA August 2004 (Wayne Litaker and Maria). E. Maria receiving PSA’s Award of Excellence, Williamsburg, VA August. F. Smithsonian’s Marine Science Sym- her interest to include Ostreopsis spe- posium, Washington, DC 2007 (Maria and Wayne Litaker); G. Maria in New Caledonia 2008; cies and mixotrophic feeding by benthic H. Poster Session, SI’s Marine Science Symposium 2007; I. Maria’s office at the Smithsonian dinoflagellates. National Museum of Natural History, Museum Support Center in Suitland, MD, 2005 (Maria Maria’s paper on sand-dwelling and Pat Tester); J. Maria in her lab at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, dinoflagellates in 1995 described a new Museum Support Center in Suitland, MD, 2005 Gambierdiscus species that she named Gambierdiscus belizeanus. This was her exacting organizational and record discus species as well as sequence data only the second species of what, at that keeping skills in this study would prove that were deposited in GenBank. This time, was thought to be a monospecific most valuable a few years later. comprehensive publication was subse- genus. The only other described Gambi- The SEM stub containing preserved quently selected for the Tyge Christens- erdiscus was the type species, G. toxicus, material for the GTT-91 isolate of G. toxi- en Award for the best paper published described in 1979 by Adachi and Fuku- cus from the 1999 study was deposited in the International Phycological Soci- yo from the Gambier Islands in French in the Type Collection of Dinoflagellates ety’s journal Phycologia in 2009. Polynesia [1]. Her discovery would be at the National Museum of Natural His- In her 40 year career, Maria pub- followed in rapid succession by the tory, Smithsonian Institution. In 2009, lished over 120 research papers. A nota- description of three other new species when no live G. toxicus cells could be ble publication, Identifying Harmful Ma- found in the Pacific by Mireille Chinain found, this SEM stub was used as the rine Dinoflagellates, [4], is a taxonomic in collaboration with Serge Pauillac of source for the redescription of the spe- identification and reference guide of the Institut Louis Malardé, Tahiti [2]. cies and designation of an epitype [3]. 48 harmful marine dinoflagellate spe- One of these species, G. polynesiensis, This monograph described four new cies with descriptions of plate and the- would turn out to be the most toxic Gambierdiscus species and provided line cal morphology and excellent scanning Gambierdiscus known to date. Maria’s drawings, high resolution light micro- exquisite electron micrographs and graphs and SEMs of all extant Gambier- Continued on page 22 20 HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 68 / 2021 research, and her teaching and super- the chrysophytes Synura cronbergiae leagues from all over the world. She vision of technicians, Gertrud received P.A.Siver and Mallomonas cronbergiae was always keen to build up local skills the honorary title, “Mother of Limnol- Piatek, the cyanobacterium Chroococcus in the countries she visited and there- ogy in Brazil”. cronbergiae Komárek & E.Novelo and fore supervised a large number of mas- In the early 1980s, she organized the cyanobacterial genus Cronbergia ter’s and doctoral students from Asia, annual UNESCO-sponsored courses on J. Komárek, E.Zapomelová & F.Hindák, Europe and Africa. She opened her and tropical water resources for lake man- with four species. Stig’s home to them with warmth and agers. This initiated a project on Lake During her expeditions around large her generous hospitality. Kariba, an impounded reservoir that parts of the world, Gertrud collected Gertrud is mourned by her husband was created on the Zambezi River. Ger- thousands of algal samples that were Stig, seven children and families, twelve trud built up a research station at the carefully studied and photographed. grandchildren, relatives and friends Zimbabwean lake side which has been Gertrud was the co-author of a hand- from all over the world. appreciated by a large number of stu- book on cyanobacteria, published by We are many who will sincerely miss dents and scientists. IOC-UNESCO and ISSHA in 2006, in Gertrud and who feel a genuine and pro- West of Lake Kariba, the Okavango which many of her beautiful images found gratitude for what she has meant River forms the world’s largest inland of cyanobacteria were presented. Her to us and to numerous others. delta in the Kalahari desert. The hydro- wide-ranging knowledge on harmful al- biology of the delta has been explored gae made her an important investigator under Gertrud’s leadership. The algal when solving the cause of waterborne AuthorsHeléne Annadotter, Regito Research Center flora of the Negril and Black River Mo- outbreaks. on Water and Health AB, Sweden rasses, Jamaica, the Namn-Guom Reser- She lived a life in wonder and cu- voir, Laos, and the lakes around Ho Chi riosity with the constant passion for Øjvind Moestrup, Nina Lundholm, Niels Minh City in Vietnam also became parts the diversity of life in a drop of water. Daugbjerg, Helge A Thomsen & Gert Hansen, of her field research. Her work was characterised by profes- University of Copenhagen, Denmark Alone, or together with colleagues, sionalism, integrity and courage. Ger- Jacob Larsen & Henrik Enevoldsen, IOC Sci- Gertrud has discovered 91 species and trud never hesitated to raise her voice ence and Communication Centre on Harmful varieties of algae and published approx- against bullying or abuse of power. Algae, University of Copenhagen, Denmark imately 100 scientific papers. Three al- Gertrud generously shared her gal species have been named after her; knowledge with students and col- Email corresponding author: ha@regito.com Continued from page 20 electron and light micrographs. This of Excellence from the Phycological 2. Chinain M et al 1999. J Phycol 35 (6): contribution from the US National Her- Society of America. Maria will be re- 1282-1296 3. Litaker RW et al 2009. Phycologia 48: barium has been widely distributed to membered for many things including 344–390 and valued by students and research- her technically exquisite and artistic 4. Faust M A & RA Gulledge 2002. Contribu- ers worldwide. It assisted in Maria’s microscopy (SEM). But most of all she tions from the United States National love of teaching. She freely shared her will be remembered for her old-world Herbarium Vol 42: 1-144 expertise and experiences with others graciousness, her kindness, her wisdom by inviting them to visit her laboratory, and eagerness to share her knowledge Authors sharing the research facilities at Carrie and passion for dinoflagellates. Patricia A Tester, Ocean Tester, LLC, 295 Dills Point Rd, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, Bow Cay, Belize or spending time with *See a full list of Dr. Faust’s publica- USA them at the poster sessions at meetings. tions at https://scholar.google.com/cita Rose A. Gulledge, Department of Botany, She was a strong supporter of the Inter- tions?user=VWu61XsAAAAJ&hl=en National Museum of Natural History, Smith- national Society for the Study of Harm- sonian Institution, PO Box 37012, MRC 166, ful Algae and a member of the American Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA Phycological Society, attending their References Email corresponding authors: meetings and contributing regularly. In 1. Adachi R & Y Fukuyo 1979. Bull Japan Ocean.Tester@gmail.com; Gulledge@si.edu 2004, Maria was honored by the Award Soc Sci Fish 45: 67–71 22 HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 68 / 2021