东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense)和链状亚历山大藻(Alexandrium catenella)对模拟食物链物质传递的影响

研究了东海原甲藻的基本营养组成,并就赤潮密度下的东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense)和链状亚历山大藻(Alexandrium catenella)在单一和混合情况下对赤潮藻→卤虫模拟食物链物质传递的影响进行了探讨。结果表明:与其它饵料微藻相比,东海原甲藻必需氨基酸中的苯丙氨酸、赖氨酸和组氨酸含量明显偏低。东海原甲藻单独投喂时,卤虫对其的总物质转化效率随着藻密度的增加呈现先逐渐增加再逐渐降低的趋势。而当不同密度的东海原甲藻分别与一种硅藻小新月菱形藻(Nitzschia closterium)混合投喂时,随东海原甲藻密度的增加,卤虫选择性地增加对东海原甲藻的摄食,而降低对小新月菱形藻的摄食,并且其总物质转化效率逐渐降低。暴露于链状亚历山大藻藻液,卤虫体重减轻,且在其体内未检测到叶绿素a,表明卤虫未摄食该藻。当链状亚历山大藻藻细胞重悬液和去藻过滤液分别与小新月菱形藻或东海原甲藻混合时,卤虫对后两株藻的摄食量和总物质转化效率均有所降低。因此,在大规模赤潮发生时,东海原甲藻和链状亚历山大藻可能分别对浮游动物的营养和存活带来不利影响,并影响物质沿食物链的传递。     

中国沿海新报道的三种产毒拟菱形藻

为了明确我国海域拟菱形藻属(Pseudo-nitzschia)物种的产毒特征, 从中国沿海建立了15个拟菱形藻单克隆培养株系, 利用高效液相色谱-质谱联用法对其多莫酸特征进行检测, 在10个株系中检测到多莫酸。结合光学显微镜下的群体特征和透射电镜下的超微形态学特征, 以及基于核糖体转录间隔区的分子系统学数据, 确认上述10个产毒株系分别隶属于3个物种:尖细拟菱形藻P. cuspidata、伪柔弱拟菱形藻P. pseudodelicatissima、伪善拟菱形藻P. fraudulenta, 其中伪善拟菱形藻是我国的新记录种。建立尖细拟菱形藻的11个尖细拟菱形藻株系, 其中3个株系未检出多莫酸, 其余8个株系有检出, 单细胞产毒水平为0.4—5.5 fg。建立伪柔弱拟菱形藻株系2个, 1个未检出多莫酸, 另1个株系的单细胞产毒量为1 fg。建立伪善拟菱形藻株系2个, 纯种培养株系均未检出多莫酸。利用卤虫(Artemia salina)对部分藻株进行混培诱导, 其中尖细拟菱形藻(MC4049)和伪柔弱拟菱形藻(MC3015)的产毒水平略有下降, 单细胞产毒水平分别由2、1 fg降至0.2、0.4 fg, 而伪善拟菱形藻(MC4074)的产毒能力则有显著改变, 单细胞产毒水平由未检出上升至17.5 fg。研究丰富了我国产毒拟菱形藻的物种多样性, 明确了其物种信息和产毒水平, 可为后续深入研究提供基础数据。     

中国渤海海域甲藻孢囊的种类多样性和生态地理分布

在渤海湾24个站位采集0–10 cm表层沉积物144份样品, 进行甲藻孢囊的种类多样性和生态地理分布研究, 并分析渤海海域水体的富营养化趋势。在渤海海域共采集鉴定出6类32种甲藻孢囊, 包括原多甲藻类孢囊11种、裸甲藻类孢囊6种、膝沟藻类孢囊7种、钙质类孢囊5种、翼藻类孢囊2种及Tuberculodinioid类孢囊1种。其中, 自养型甲藻孢囊17种, 优势种为锥状斯氏藻(Scrippsiella trochoidea)孢囊, 丰富的孢囊库为锥状斯氏藻赤潮提供种源, 可作为该海域发生锥状斯氏藻赤潮的参考依据; 异养型甲藻孢囊15种, 优势种为无纹多沟藻(Polykrikos schwartzii)和锥形原多甲藻(Protoperidinium conicum)孢囊; 发现1种产麻痹性贝类毒素的孢囊--塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)孢囊, 但是仅在S6、S8和S14三个站位发现, 且孢囊数量较少。渤海甲藻孢囊组成与世界其它海域相似, 异养型甲藻孢囊种类丰富, 提示渤海海域富营养化程度较高。每个站位沉积物样品分为3层(每层约3 cm), 春夏两季表层、中层和底层之间孢囊组成差异不大, 平均种类数为5.58–7.29, 孢囊的平均密度范围在58.82–103.57 cysts·g^–1 DW之间; 孢囊种类丰富的站点, 孢囊密度也较高, 如S9、S14站位。对渤海海区表层沉积物中甲藻孢囊的生物多样性进行了统计分析, 发现表、中、底3层甲藻孢囊的平均种类多样性指数在春季(5月)分别为1.69、1.61和1.52; 略低于夏季(8月)的1.83、1.89和1.60。     

不同pH和盐度下海洋细菌对赤潮藻生长和产毒的影响

研究了在可控生态条件下。一株分离自厦门西海域沉积物的海洋细菌S10在不同pH和盐度条件下对赤潮原因种塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)生长和产毒的影响．结果表明。实验用藻株适宜生长pH为6～8,适宜盐度为20～34;该藻株在不同pH及不同盐度条件下,藻细胞毒力差异显著,且随着pH升高而下降。随着盐度增加而加大,到盐度为30时达到最高值。然后逐渐下降;菌株Sl0(1．02×10^l0cells·ml^-1)在pH7～9和盐度15～34下均能有效抑藻生长和产毒。且在pH7、盐度34时其抑藻生长作用最强;在pH7时抑藻产毒效果较好,且其抑藻产毒作用强度不随盐度变化而异．     

大窑湾养殖区赤潮甲藻孢囊种类组成及分布的研究

2006—2007年对大窑湾养殖区的甲藻孢囊进行了研究,结果检出10种甲藻孢囊,分属于4大类9种甲藻孢囊,其中原多甲藻类孢囊2种,膝沟藻类孢囊5种,钙质类孢囊1种,裸甲藻类孢囊1种,一种艉杆藻(Ensiculifera Balech)和一种易碎藻(Fragilidium mexicanum)是中国沿海新记录的两个种类,此外还有一种无法鉴定到种的一种原多甲藻孢囊。膝沟藻类孢囊的种类数占绝对优势,占50%,其次是原多甲藻类孢囊占30%,钙质类孢囊和裸甲藻类孢囊各占10%。10种孢囊中有3种异养型孢囊和7种自养型孢囊。并发现两种产麻痹性贝毒(PSP)的孢囊—塔玛亚历山大藻/链状亚历山大藻复合体(Alexandrium tamarense/A.catenella)和链状裸甲藻(Gymnodinium catenatum)。孢囊密度的季节分布呈现明显的双峰型,在2007年1月份和2007年的8月份出现了两个高峰。2007年的1月份达到了调查全年的孢囊密度最高值,达到了1.09×103 cysts/g湿重,2007年的8月份出现的第二次高峰期孢囊密度达到了0.86×103 cysts/g湿重。孢囊密度最低值出现在2007年的10月,只有280 cysts/g湿重。全年孢囊平均密度为695.5 cysts/g湿重。甲藻孢囊的多样性指数除了2007年的9月和10月以外,相差不大,变化范围为0.17—0.55,全年的平均值为0.46。     

甲藻分类历史沿革及中国近海部分甲藻分类地位修订

甲藻自发现至今已有200多年的历史.一方面,甲藻的分类地位越来越受到学者的重视;另一方面,随着研究的深入,出现了越来越多的争议和困惑,在一定程度上阻碍了甲藻分类学的发展.本文简述了国内外甲藻分类研究的历史沿革,主要介绍了几次较大的分类地位的变革.另外,目前中国近海甲藻的分类体系与国际上通用的分类体系还有很多差异,为了更好地促进国内甲藻的分类学研究,方便国际间的合作与交流,我们对国际国内的甲藻分类体系(分别以algaeBASE数据库和《中国海洋生物名录》为代表)进行比较,发现目水平上的分类体系基本相同,但在科、属的划分上有很多差异.针对这些差异点查阅文献,寻根溯源,最终提出了一个较为合理的划分.本文所作的主要调整有:将凯伦藻属(Karenia)、卡罗藻属(Karlodinium)和塔卡藻属(Takay ama)3个属从裸甲藻科(Gymnodiniaceae)中分出,单独成凯伦藻科(Kareniaceae);角藻属(Ceratium)中的大部分海洋种改为新角藻属(Neoceratium);亚历山大藻属(Alexandrium)从屋甲藻科(Goniodomataceae)中分出,归入膝沟藻科(Gonyaulacaceae);取消异沟藻科(Heteraulacus),由屋甲藻科取而代之;成立2个新目,即尖尾藻目(Oxyrrhinales)和梨甲藻目(Pyrocystales).     

营养盐限制条件下塔玛亚历山大藻对东海原甲藻的化感作用研究

为明确塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)对东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense)生长的化感作用,研究了在N、P限制及正常营养盐条件下(又称富营养)塔玛亚历山大藻无细胞滤液对东海原甲藻生长的影响,并探讨了3种不同营养盐条件下两种藻共培养时的生长状况。结果表明,半连续培养时,营养盐限制下,塔玛亚历山大藻无细胞滤液对东海原甲藻的生长均有一定影响。N限制下,5 d后东海原甲藻藻密度显著低于未加滤液的对照组,藻密度为1.02×107 cells L-1,对照组为1.7×107 cells L-1;P限制下,东海原甲藻藻密度与对照组差异不显著,5 d后藻密度为1.44×107 cells L-1;富营养条件下,东海原甲藻藻密度与对照组无明显区别。共培养时,塔玛亚历山大藻对东海原甲藻生长的抑制作用更为显著,N、P限制下,4 d后东海原甲藻全部死亡,且聚集成团形成沉淀;富营养条件下,仍有少量东海原甲藻存活(藻密度3.3×104 cells L-1)。这表明,塔玛亚历山大藻对东海原甲藻的生长有一定的化感作用。营养盐限制可促进塔玛亚历山大藻化感物质的合成和释放,化感作用是塔玛亚历山大藻抑制东海原甲藻生长的原因之一。     

有害赤潮藻种塔玛亚历山大藻的研究进展

塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)是一种全球分布的有毒涡鞭毛藻,在中国的渤海、东海和南海海域均有分布。塔玛亚历山大藻是一种主要的有毒赤潮原因种,而且它能产生可经食物链传递后在贝类、鱼类等生物体内大量蓄积的麻痹性贝毒素,对水域环境和人类健康都具有极大的危害。因此,针对塔玛亚历山大藻的产生、发展以及毒素的特征等开展了广泛而深入的研究。本文主要从塔玛亚历山大藻的生长环境、分子鉴定、藻际竞争关系以及治理等方面进行了综述,为研究塔玛亚历山大藻的利弊和监控提供参考。     

东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiense）和链状亚历山大藻（Alexandrium catenella）对模拟食物链物质传递的影响

研究了东海原甲藻的基本营养组成,并就赤潮密度下的东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiense）和链状亚历山大藻（Alexandrium catenella）在单一和混合情况下对赤潮藻→卤虫模拟食物链物质传递的影响进行了探讨。结果表明：与其它饵料微藻相比,东海原甲藻必需氨基酸中的苯丙氨酸、赖氨酸和组氨酸含量明显偏低。东海原甲藻单独投喂时,卤虫对其的总物质转化效率随着藻密度的增加呈现先逐渐增加再逐渐降低的趋势。而当不同密度的东海原甲藻分别与一种硅藻小新月菱形藻(Nitzschia closterium)混合投喂时,随东海原甲藻密度的增加,卤虫选择性地增加对东海原甲藻的摄食,而降低对小新月菱形藻的摄食,并且其总物质转化效率逐渐降低。暴露于链状亚历山大藻藻液,卤虫体重减轻,且在其体内未检测到叶绿素a,表明卤虫未摄食该藻。当链状亚历山大藻藻细胞重悬液和去藻过滤液分别与小新月菱形藻或东海原甲藻混合时,卤虫对后两株藻的摄食量和总物质转化效率均有所降低。因此,在大规模赤潮发生时,东海原甲藻和链状亚历山大藻可能分别对浮游动物的营养和存活带来不利影响,并影响物质沿食物链的传递。     

大亚湾水域并基拟菱形藻的种类鉴定和产毒特征分析

为了丰富我国海域拟菱形藻(Pseudo-nitzschia Peragallo)的物种多样性, 并澄清其产毒特征, 研究从广东大亚湾海域分离并建立了一株拟菱形藻的单克隆培养株系MC298, 通过光学显微镜下的群体特征和透射电镜下的超微形态特征观察, 结合基于核糖体转录间隔区(Internal Transcribed Spacer, ITS)的分子系统学数据, 以及基于ITS2转录RNA的二级结构分析, 鉴定到我国拟菱形藻属的1个新记录种: 并基拟菱形藻P. decipiens Lundholm & Moestrup。研究对其形态学特征进行了较为详细地描述, 并与相似种进行了比较, 还对其ITS2-RNA的特有标志结构进行了阐述。同时, 利用高效液相色谱-质谱联用法(Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS)对该藻株的产毒特征进行了检测, 结果未检测到DA的存在。研究不仅丰富了我国拟菱形藻属的物种多样性, 也可为拟菱形藻的产毒特征研究提供基础数据。     

Extinction and diversification in the Devonian Brachiopoda of New York state: No correlation with sea level?

Sea level highstand is generally considered to promote high species diversities among marine organisms through habitat expansion and global climatic amelioration, and marine regression to trigger elevated extinction rates among marine benthic organisms by habitat reduction (the species‐area effect), and among both marine and terrestrial organisms by global climatic deterioration. The Devonian is unusual in that the Late Devonian mass extinction occurs during an interval of global sea level highstand. To further explore this anomaly, the potential relationship between relative sea level and evolutionary biology is analyzed here for the Brachiopoda of the Devonian Period. Successive linear modeling reveals a total lack of correlation between relative sea level and either origination rates, extinction rates, or standing diversity among the Devonian brachiopods.     

扇贝毒素pectenotoxins(PTXs)研究进展

扇贝毒素(pectenotoxins,PTXs)是一类聚醚大环内酯结构的脂溶性海洋生物毒素,是由海洋甲藻中的鳍藻属Dinophysisspp.的几个种产生的,1984年首次从日本的养殖扇贝Patinopecten yessoensis中发现鉴定,具有很高的小鼠腹腔注射致死毒性。近年发现的地理区域不断扩大,我国尚属空白。就这一毒素的结构、来源生物、毒性、携带生物、地理分布、降解代谢及风险评估等研究现状作一系统综述,并分析展望了今后我国藻毒素研究的重点方向。     

Structure, biology, evolution, and medical importance of sulfated fucans and galactans

Sulfated fucans and galactans are strongly anionic polysaccharides found in marine organisms. Their structures vary among species, but their major features are conserved among phyla. Sulfated fucans are found in marine brown algae and echinoderms, whereas sulfated galactans occur in red and green algae, marine angiosperms, tunicates (ascidians), and sea urchins. Polysaccharides with 3-linked, beta-galactose units are highly conserved in some taxonomic groups of marine organisms and show a strong tendency toward 4-sulfation in algae and marine angiosperms, and 2-sulfation in invertebrates. Marine algae mainly express sulfated polysaccharides with complex, heterogeneous structures, whereas marine invertebrates synthesize sulfated fucans and sulfated galactans with regular repetitive structures. These polysaccharides are structural components of the extracellular matrix. Sulfated fucans and galactans are involved in sea urchin fertilization acting as species-specific inducers of the sperm acrosome reaction. Because of this function the structural evolution of sulfated fucans could be a component in the speciation process. The algal and invertebrate polysaccharides are also potent anticoagulant agents of mammalian blood and represent a potential source of compounds for antithrombotic therapies.     

Occurrence of sulfated galactans in marine angiosperms: evolutionary implications

We report for the first time that marine angiosperms (seagrasses) possess sulfated polysaccharides, which are absent in terrestrial and freshwater plants. The structure of the sulfated polysaccharide from the seagrass Ruppia maritima was determined. It is a sulfated D-galactan composed of the following regular tetrasaccharide repeating unit: [3-beta-D-Gal-2(OSO3)-1-->4-alpha-D-Gal-1-->4-alpha-D-Gal-1-->3-beta-D-Gal-4(OSO3)-1-->]. Sulfated galactans have been described previously in red algae and in marine invertebrates (ascidians and sea urchins). The sulfated galactan from the marine angiosperm has an intermediate structure when compared with the polysaccharides from these two other groups of organisms. Like marine invertebrate galactan, it expresses a regular repeating unit with a homogenous sulfation pattern. However, seagrass galactan contains the D-enantiomer of galactose instead of the L-isomer found in marine invertebrates. Like red algae, the marine angiosperm polysaccharide contains both alpha and beta units of D-galactose; however, these units are not distributed in an alternating order, as in algal galactan. Sulfated galactan is localized in the plant cell walls, mostly in rhizomes and roots, indicative of a relationship with the absorption of nutrients and of a possible structural function. The occurrence of sulfated galactans in marine organisms may be the result of physiological adaptations, which are not correlated with phylogenetic proximity. We suggest that convergent adaptation, due to environment pressure, may explain the occurrence of sulfated galactans in many marine organisms.     

Informative characteristics of 12 divergent domains in complete large subunit rDNA sequences from the harmful dinoflagellate genus, Alexandrium (Dinophyceae)

The genus Alexandrium includes organisms of interest, both for the study of dinoflagellate evolution and for their impacts as toxic algae affecting human health and fisheries. Only partial large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences of Alexandrium and other dinoflagellates are available, although they contain much genetic information. Here, we report complete LSU rDNA sequences from 11 strains of Alexandrium, including Alexandrium affine, Alexandrium catenella, Alexandrium fundyense, Alexandrium minutum, and Alexandrium tamarense, and discuss their segmented domains and structure. Putative LSU rRNA coding regions were recorded to be around 3,400 bp long. Their GC content (about 43.7%) is among the lowest when compared with other organisms. Furthermore, no AT-rich regions were found in Alexandrium LSU rDNA, although a low GC content was recorded within the LSU rDNA. No intron-like sequences were found. The secondary structure of the LSU rDNA and parsimony analyses showed that most variation in LSU rDNA is found in the divergent (D) domains with the D2 region being the most informative. This high D domain variability can allow members of the diverse Alexandrium genus to be categorized at the species level. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of the alveolate group using the complete LSU sequences strongly supported previous findings that the dinoflagellates and apicomplexans form a clade.     

Antifouling properties of tough gels against barnacles in a long-term marine environment experiment

In the marine environment, the antifouling (AF) properties of various kinds of hydrogels against sessile marine organisms (algae, sea squirts, barnacles) were tested in a long-term experiment. The results demonstrate that most hydrogels can endure at least 2 months in the marine environment. In particular, mechanically tough PAMPS/PAAm DN and PVA gels exhibited AF activity against marine sessile organisms, especially barnacles, for as long as 330 days. The AF ability of hydrogels toward barnacles is explained in terms of an ‘easy-release’ mechanism in which the high water content and the elastic modulus of the gel are two important parameters.     

Genetic diversity and molecular detection of three toxic dinoflagellate genera (Alexandrium,Dinophysis, and Karenia) from French coasts

The objectives of this study were 1) to study the genetic diversity of the Alexandrium, Dinophysis and Karenia genera along the French coasts in order to design probes targeting specific DNA regions, and 2) to apply PCR-based detection to detect these three toxic dinoflagellate genera in natural samples. Genetic diversity of these toxic taxa was first studied from either cultures or cells isolated from Lugol-fixed field samples. By this way, partial sequences of the large ribosomal subunit (LSU rDNA) including the variable domains D1 and D2 of A. minutum, Alexandrium species inside the tamarensis complex, the D. acuminata complex and K. mikimotoi were obtained. Next, specific primers were designed for a selection of toxic algae and used during semi-nested PCR detection. This method was tested over a 3-month period on water samples from the Bay of Concarneau (Brittany, France) and on sediment from the Antifer harbor (The English Channel, France). Specificity and sensitivity of this molecular detection were evaluated using the occurrence of target taxa reported by the IFREMER (Institut Fran?ais de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer) monitoring network based on conventional microscopic examination. This work presents the first results obtained on the biogeographical distribution of genotypes of these three toxic genera along the French coasts.     

海洋赤潮生物与厦门海域几种细菌的生态关系研究

选择我国沿海易发有毒赤潮藻——塔马亚历山大藻 [Alexandrium tamarense (Lebour) Balech,1 985 ]和从厦门海域筛选的海洋细菌作为实验材料 ,研究在实验生态条件下 A.tamarense的生理生态特征 ,及其与 3株从厦门海域筛选的海洋细菌 S5,S7,S10 与 A.tamarense共同培养表现的生态关系的差异性。结果表明 :在实验室条件下 ,A.tamarense可以较好地生长并保持自然状态下的若干特性 ,其生长曲线与微型生物的生长曲线相似 ;分别在藻细胞生长的延滞期和指数期加入细菌过滤液 ,发现 3种海洋细菌的过滤液对 A.tamarense生长有不同的抑制作用效果。三者的抑藻能力大小依次为 S10 >S5>S7。本文对海洋细菌抑藻作用机理、赤潮的生物防治可能性进行了讨论。     

Towards a ‘Sea‐Level Sensitive’ dynamic model: impact of island ontogeny and glacio‐eustasy on global patterns of marine island biogeography

A synthetic model is presented to enlarge the evolutionary framework of the General Dynamic Model (GDM) and the Glacial Sensitive Model (GSM) of oceanic island biogeography from the terrestrial to the marine realm. The proposed ‘Sea‐Level Sensitive’ dynamic model (SLS) of marine island biogeography integrates historical and ecological biogeography with patterns of glacio‐eustasy, merging concepts from areas as diverse as taxonomy, biogeography, marine biology, volcanology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, palaeontology, geochronology and geomorphology. Fundamental to the SLS model is the dynamic variation of the littoral area of volcanic oceanic islands (defined as the area between the intertidal and the 50‐m isobath) in response to sea‐level oscillations driven by glacial–interglacial cycles. The following questions are considered by means of this revision: (i) what was the impact of (global) glacio‐eustatic sea‐level oscillations, particularly those of the Pleistocene glacial–interglacial episodes, on the littoral marine fauna and flora of volcanic oceanic islands? (ii) What are the main factors that explain the present littoral marine biodiversity on volcanic oceanic islands? (iii) How can differences in historical and ecological biogeography be reconciled, from a marine point of view? These questions are addressed by compiling the bathymetry of 11 Atlantic archipelagos/islands to obtain quantitative data regarding changes in the littoral area based on Pleistocene sea‐level oscillations, from 150 thousand years ago (ka) to the present. Within the framework of a model sensitive to changing sea levels, we discuss the principal factors affecting the geographical range of marine species; the relationships between modes of larval development, dispersal strategies and geographical range; the relationships between times of speciation, modes of larval development, ecological zonation and geographical range; the influence of sea‐surface temperatures and latitude on littoral marine species diversity; the effect of eustatic sea‐level changes and their impact on the littoral marine biota; island marine species–area relationships; and finally, the physical effects of island ontogeny and its associated submarine topography and marine substrate on littoral biota. Based on the SLS dynamic model, we offer a number of predictions for tropical, subtropical and temperate volcanic oceanic islands on how rates of immigration, colonization, in‐situ speciation, local disappearance, and extinction interact and affect the marine biodiversity around islands during glacials and interglacials, thus allowing future testing of the theory.     

Effects of toxic Alexandrium species on the survival and feeding rates of brine shrimp, Artemia salina

Zooplankton is an important link between phytoplankton and higher consumers in the marine food chain. To investigate the harmful effects of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium species on zooplankton, 4 strains of Alexandrium spp., isolated from the Chinese coast, were used to test the species' effects on the survival and feeding rates of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina. The experiment was designed to assess the response of A. salina in each stage of its life cycle: nauplii, metanauplii, and adult. Each experiment was conducted in a 500 ml treatment that was added. The toxic treatments consisted of single strains of A. minutum, A. catanella, and A. tamarense (Nanhai and Donghai strain), while non-toxic species (dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense and diatom Chaetoceros minutissimus) were used as control treatments. An additional phytoplankton treatment consisted of, a mixture of A. tamarense (Nanhai strain) and P. donghaiense. Alexandrium spp. species were found to have lethal effects on the brine shrimp at a density of 2000 cells/ml. All the brine shrimps died within 24-168 hours of inoculation with the 4 treatments each containing single toxic Alexandrium species. During the feeding experiment, toxic Alexandrium spp. caused a reduction in the feeding rates in all the three stages of the life cycle of A. salina, whereas this response was not obvious in the treatment involving the nontoxic species P. donghaiense. The body surface of the brine shrimp that were fed on Alexandrium species was consistently covered by a sticky floc. Mortality of A. salina was observed to increase with the occurrence of the floc. The toxicity of the paralytic shellfish poisons (PSP) produced by the Alexandrium species was not significantly correlated with the survival or the feeding rate of the brine shrimp. When A. tamarense was mixed with P. donghaiense, the lethal effect of A. tamarense decreased, as shown by an increase in the survival and the feeding rates of the brine shrimp. A. salina metanauplii were found at the life stage most sensitive to the toxic algae and hunger. In summary, toxic Alexandrium spp. were found to have lethal effects on A. salina and to restrain the brine shrimp's feeding rate. Nontoxic Prorocentrum mitigated the toxicity of Alexandrium to a certain extent. The results also imply that the sticky material on the surface of the body of the brine shrimp may have been an important lethal factor rather than the PSP toxins.