Novel symptomatology and changing epidemiology of domoic acid toxicosis in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus): an increasing risk to marine mammal health

Harmful algal blooms are increasing worldwide, including those of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. producing domoic acid off the California coast. This neurotoxin was first shown to cause mortality of marine mammals in 1998. A decade of monitoring California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) health since then has indicated that changes in the symptomatology and epidemiology of domoic acid toxicosis in this species are associated with the increase in toxigenic blooms. Two separate clinical syndromes now exist: acute domoic acid toxicosis as has been previously documented, and a second novel neurological syndrome characterized by epilepsy described here associated with chronic consequences of previous sub-lethal exposure to the toxin. This study indicates that domoic acid causes chronic damage to California sea lions and that these health effects are increasing.     

Toxic events in the Northwest Pacific coastline of Mexico during 1992–1995: origin and impact

Previously considered as toxin-free, the Baja California Peninsula has witnessed several toxic algal blooms during the past three years. Apparently these ‘red-tide’ phenomena's outbreaks are not linked to any human related activity. This may just reflect better detection and training. Such events may be periodical and natural rather than induced. The most common types of marine toxins have been detected along the coast of the Peninsula and neighboring waters by mouse bioassay and chromatographic techniques. These are: Tetrodotoxin (TTX), Amnesic Shellfish Poison (ASP), Paralytic Shellfish Poisons (PSP), Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisons (DSP) and even Ciguatera (CFP), which are related to the presence of organisms of Prorocentrum sp. and Alexandrium sp. groups, and the diatom Pseudonitzschia sp. among others. There are also some indications about different kinds of TTX in the puffer fish of the region, and reasons to believe that we are facing a quite different pattern in toxic components, since PSP toxic potency (defined as the number of mouse units per gram(MU/g)of shellfish meat) is very high in spite of low dinoflagellates cell density registered. The ecological and social impact of the above has been considerable, with mass deaths of shellfish, seagulls, dolphins and turtles, and even some human casualties. The locally registered toxicity records: PSP found in one single fanshell reaches to 23 000 MU/100 g of tissue as determined by the mouse bioassay and, on a different event, two persons killed after ingesting puffer fish fillet. The largest reservoir of commercial marine organisms in Mexico is precisely the Northwest coast of the country and important plans for building large harbors and develop aquaculture areas are in progress. Therefore, a monitoring program is essential for an adequate management of such resources. Considering the large extension of the Peninsula (about1600 km)and, at this time, the lack of efficient communication means and scarce population, the implementation of such monitoring programs presents a big challenge. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)对浮游植物和微型浮游动物的摄食速率估算

2005年4月27日至5月30日在东海有害藻华高发区的6个典型站位采样,结合稀释法实验和Frost的直接计量法研究了中型浮游动物对浮游植物和微型浮游动物群落的现场摄食速率,并对中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)的食物组成、中型浮游动物和微型浮游动物对浮游植物群落的摄食压力进行了估算。研究结果表明春季调查区:中华哲水蚤对浮游植物的物种比摄食率介于0.01~8.43d-1,平均值为(2.72±2.14)d-1。中华哲水蚤对浮游植物的物种摄食速率介于0.05~838.23cells ind.-1d-1,平均值为(52.72±154.21)cells ind.-1d-1,对几种有害藻华原因生物的摄食速率较高。中华哲水蚤对浮游植物物种摄食速率具有食物密度依赖性,在低浮游植物丰度下,其摄食速率会随着浮游植物丰度的增加而增加,达到一定阈值后随着浮游植物丰度增加而逐渐降低。中型浮游动物群落对浮游植物群落碳摄食速率介于0.53~4.97ngC L-1d-1,平均值为(2.16±1.63)ngC L-1d-1。微型浮游动物对浮游植物群落物种平均碳摄食速率介于0.04~13.20ngC ind.-1d-1,平均值为(2.91±5.22)ngCind.-1d-1。微型浮游动物群落对浮游植物群落碳摄食速率介于61.07~8632.85ngC L-1d-1,平均值为(2801.01±4198.46)ngC L-1d-1。分析比较中型浮游动物和微型浮游动物对浮游植物现存量摄食压力表明,海区中微型浮游动物的摄食压力要远高于中型浮游动物,介于95.59%~99.98%,平均值为97.88%±2.33%。调查海区中型浮游动物还通过对微型浮游动物的摄食影响浮游植物生长。     

A review of the global ecology,genomics, and biogeography of the toxic cyanobacterium,Microcystis spp.

This review summarizes the present state of knowledge regarding the toxic, bloom-forming cyanobacterium, Microcystis, with a specific focus on its geographic distribution, toxins, genomics, phylogeny, and ecology. A global analysis found documentation suggesting geographic expansion of Microcystis, with recorded blooms in at least 108 countries, 79 of which have also reported the hepatatoxin microcystin. The production of microcystins (originally “Fast-Death Factor”) by Microcystis and factors that control synthesis of this toxin are reviewed, as well as the putative ecophysiological roles of this metabolite. Molecular biological analyses have provided significant insight into the ecology and physiology of Microcystis, as well as revealed the highly dynamic, and potentially unstable, nature of its genome. A genetic sequence analysis of 27 Microcystis species, including 15 complete/draft genomes are presented. Using the strictest biological definition of what constitutes a bacterial species, these analyses indicate that all Microcystis species warrant placement into the same species complex since the average nucleotide identity values were above 95%, 16S rRNA nucleotide identity scores exceeded 99%, and DNA–DNA hybridization was consistently greater than 70%. The review further provides evidence from around the globe for the key role that both nitrogen and phosphorus play in controlling Microcystis bloom dynamics, and the effect of elevated temperature on bloom intensification. Finally, highlighted is the ability of Microcystis assemblages to minimize their mortality losses by resisting grazing by zooplankton and bivalves, as well as viral lysis, and discuss factors facilitating assemblage resilience.     

Production and Toxicity of the Marine Biotoxin Domoic Acid and Its Effects on Wildlife: A Review

Domoic acid (DA), produced by marine diatom species in the genus Pseudo-nitzschia, is a potent excitotoxin linked since the late 1990s to massive marine mammal and seabird mortalities along the California coast. These and a previous incident involving human intoxication and deaths prompted many studies, some of which have unveiled the trophic transfer of DA from benthic invertebrates and planktivorous fish to top predators, demonstrating serious health risk to marine wildlife and humans. Top predator populations that may be more adversely affected by DA include those with narrow geographical distribution or those that are already in decline as a result of other environmental stressors or natural cyclic fluctuations. However, to date no studies have attempted to assess the population effects of recurrent exposures to DA on any of the affected wildlife species. Ecological risk assessment can help to identify DA effects on wildlife, but meaningful assessments require the integration of many types of information, often not available to conduct such studies. Hence, determining short- and long-term effects on marine wildlife populations is rather challenging. The purpose of this review is to highlight recent research efforts and information gaps, and the need for interdisciplinary programs that allow collaborative wildlife population risk assessments of critical species.     

春季东海中华哲水蚤对有害藻华物种的选择性摄食

2005年4月27日—6月5日在东海有害藻华高发区的6个典型站位采样,分析了浮游植物的群落结构,并采用现场实验研究了中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)的选择性摄食.结果表明,中华哲水蚤对浮游植物的选择性摄食具有食物密度依赖性.低浮游植物细胞丰度下中华哲水蚤具有明显的选择性摄食行为,高浮游植物细胞丰度下中华哲水蚤摄食选择性由偏好转变为排斥,浮游植物细胞丰度329 cells·ml^-1是中华哲水蚤由偏好趋于排斥摄食的阈值.中华哲水蚤的选择性摄食还与食物组成有关,对于食物中的微型浮游动物,中华哲水蚤无选择性或排斥摄食.有害藻华发生区中华哲水蚤对具齿原甲藻(Prorocentrum dentatum)的偏好摄食以及对米氏凯伦藻(Karenia mikimotoi)的排斥摄食,促使藻华的物种演替最终向米氏凯伦藻水华方向发展.     

沿岸海域富营养化与赤潮发生的关系

综述了赤潮的发生与沿岸海域富营养化的关系。近几十年来,人类活动使得天然水体的富营养化进程大大加速。营养负荷的增加与高生物量水华的增多相联系。控制营养输入后,浮游植物生物量或有害藻类水华事件也相应减少。营养的组成与浮游植物的种类组成及水华的形成有密切联系。有机营养对有害藻类水华的促进作用受到关注。营养输入时机影响浮游植物种间竞争的结果,因而对浮游植物的群落演替具有深远影响。由于浮游植物存在生理差异,因而对营养加富的反应因种而异。营养在调控某些有毒藻类的毒素产量方面也发挥着重要作用。此外,营养输入与藻类水华之间存在复杂的间接联系。当然,营养状况并非浮游植物群落演替的唯一决定因素。研究结果提示,控制营养输入、减缓水域富营养化是减少有害藻类水华发生的有效途径,而深入研究典型有害藻类的营养生理对策则为防治并最终消除有害藻类水华提供了理论基础。     

中国赤潮的发生趋势和研究进展

通过对中国沿海赤潮发生历史的回顾以及主要赤潮事件的分析,阐明了中国沿海赤潮发生所呈现的趋势,即频率增加,规模扩大,新的赤潮藻种不断出现,有毒赤潮种比例上升,以及有害赤潮危害程度日益增加,且初步分析了赤潮频发的内因和外因,综述了我国科学家在赤潮生消过程监测,赤潮灌的培养生物学和分类学,赤潮藻类的营养动力学及生理生态学特性,赤潮藻类的生活史,赤潮藻类毒素,赤潮的模型和赤潮防治及国际合作等方面工作的进展,指出了研究还存在的不足之处,并对未来赤潮研究和管理提出了建议。     

CONFIRMATION OF DOMOIC ACID PRODUCTION BY PSEUDONITZSCHIA AUSTRALIS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) CULTURES1

Single done isolates of Pseudonitzschia australis Frenguelli (= Nitzschia pseudoseriata Hasle) isolated from a toxic bloom in Monterey Bay, California produced domoic acid in culture. Although long-term historical records do not indicate previous blooms of this species on the Pacific coast, this is probably because it has been often misidentified as Nitzschia seriata Hasle; previous evidence for toxicity is lacking. Hydrographic data suggest that areas such as Monterey Bay might be “hot spots” for domoic acid-producing blooms.     

MICROPHOTOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF SPECTRAL ABSORPTION AND ITS POTENTIAL APPLICATION FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF HARMFUL ALGAL SPECIES

A comparison was made of microphotometric measurements and spectrophotometric measurements of particulate spectral absorption of four algal species, including the chlorophyte Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher; a nontoxic dinoflagellate, Amphidinium carterae Hulburt; a diatom, Chaetoceros gracilis Schütt; and a toxic dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium breve Steidinger. Particulate spectral absorption of monospecies cultures was estimated as the product of the average absorption efficiency factor, Q _a, determined by microphotometry, the cellular cross-sectional area, and the cell number density. Estimates of particulate spectral absorption from microphotometric measurements were, in most cases, within one standard deviation of values determined from spectrophotometric measurements of algal suspensions. Estimates of Q_a(675) were shown to be consistent with values reported in previous studies for cells of similar size and pigmentation and were consistent with theoretical predictions. Absorption spectra of mixtures of C. gracilis and G. breve were numerically decomposed into contributions by absorption signatures of monospecies cultures using either spectrophotometric or microphotometric measurements as the basis for end members. Modeled contributions assigned to either species displayed trends consistent with the actual proportions contributed to the spectrum by each algal culture. However, the technique was sensitive to measurement variability, which reduced the level of agreement between modeled and actual contributions. The utility of this approach for identification of algal taxa will depend on the degree to which algal spectral absorption signatures differ and the capabilities for acquiring high-resolution data with low signal-to-noise ratios.     

OPTICAL MONITORING AND FORECASTING SYSTEMS FOR HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS: POSSIBILITY OR PIPE DREAM?

Monitoring programs for harmful algal blooms (HABs) are currently reactive and provide little or no means for advance warning. Given this, the development of algal forecasting systems would be of great use because they could guide traditional monitoring programs and provide a proactive means for responding to HABs. Forecasting systems will require near real-time observational capabilities and hydrodynamic/biological models designed to run in the forecast mode. These observational networks must detect and forecast over ecologically relevant spatial/ temporal scales. One solution is to incorporate a multiplatform optical approach utilizing remote sensing and in situ moored technologies. Recent advances in instrumentation and data-assimilative modeling may provide the components necessary for building an algal forecasting system. This review will outline the utility and hurdles of optical approaches in HAB detection and monitoring. In all the approaches, the desired HAB information must be isolated and extracted from the measured bulk optical signals. Examples of strengths and weaknesses of the current approaches to deconvolve the bulk optical properties are illustrated. After the phytoplankton signal has been isolated, species-recognition algorithms will be required, and we demonstrate one approach developed for Gymnodinium breve Davis. Pattern-recognition algorithms will be species-specific, reflecting the acclimation state of the HAB species of interest.Field data will provide inputs to optically based ecosystem models, which are fused to the observational networks through data-assimilation methods. Potential model structure and data-assimilation methods are reviewed.