Accumulation of PSP toxins in Atlantic mackerel: seasonal and ontogenetic variations |
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Authors: | M Castonguay M Levasseur J-L Beaulieu F Grégoire S Michaud E Bonneau S S Bates † |
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Institution: | Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Institut Maurice-Lamontagne, P.O. Box 1000, Mont-Joli, QC, Canada G5H 3Z4;Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Fisheries Centre, P.O. Box 5030, Moncton, NB, Canada E1C 9B6 |
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Abstract: | Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus are known to be lethal vectors of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins to predators. To elucidate dynamics of PSP toxin accumulation in this species, mackerel were sampled in the Gulf of St Lawrence from May to October 1993. Mackerel appear to retain toxins (saxitoxin, gonyautoxins 2 and 3) year-round. The toxin content of the liver, as determined by high performance liquid chromatography, increased significantly with fish age ( r2 =0.40) and length ( r2 =0.52), suggesting that mackerel progressively accumulate PSP toxins throughout their life. The toxin content of the liver also increased significantly during the summer feeding sojourn in the Gulf of St Lawrence. Comparison of profiles of saxitoxin derivatives indicated that zooplankton were the likely source of PSP toxins found in mackerel. The mean ± S.D toxin content was 17.4 ± 10.6 nmol liver−1 and the mean ± S.D. PSP toxicity was 112.4 ± 67.0 μg saxitoxin equivalents 100 g−1 liver wet weight ( n =247). |
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Keywords: | PSP toxins Alexandrium mackerel bioaccumulation food web transfer |
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