Blooms Of Alexandrium Minutum Research Articles

Coastal micro-phytoplankton community changes during the toxigenic Alexandrium minutum blooms in a semi-enclosed tropical coastal lagoon (Malaysia, South China Sea)

Estuarine lagoons often experience eutrophication due to anthropogenic activities in proximity and poor water exchange. Deterioration of water quality in the lagoon has driven the shifts in micro-phytoplankton communities that often form coastal harmful algal blooms (HABs). This study investigated changes in the micro-phytoplankton community in a tropical semi-enclosed lagoon, Geting Lagoon, for two consecutive years during the study periods of 2014/2015 (September 2014–March 2015) and 2015/2016 (August 2015–March 2016). A total of 38 phytoplankton taxa were identified throughout the sampling periods, with 17 taxa of harmful algae identified microscopically. The diatoms Skeletonema costatum and Chaetoceros were predominant in the lagoon. The lagoon was significantly enriched in macronutrients, and high overall nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations likely supported substantial phytoplankton blooms in the lagoon throughout the studied periods. It was observed that with similar temperatures and nutrient availability between the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 periods, the density of A. minutum in 2014/2015 did not reach as high as in those of the 2015/2016 period, in which higher precipitations, streamflow, and decreased in salinity stratification index had prevented the development of A. minutum bloom. The findings of this study revealed that the coastal micro-phytoplankton community was dependent on the interplay of environmental variables and unique strategic adaptations of the functional types in the assemblages. This study provides valuable insights into the phytoplankton community dynamics in a tropical eutrophic lagoon.

HABs in coastal upwelling systems: Insights from an exceptional red tide of the toxigenic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum

Alexandrium minutum blooms generally occur in semi-enclosed sites such as estuaries, harbours and lagoons, where enhanced stratification, restricted circulation and accumulation of resting cysts in the sediment set suitable habitat conditions for the proliferation of this paralytic shellfish poisoning toxigenic species. In the Galician Rías Baixas (NW Iberian Peninsula), according to weekly time-series between 1994 and 2020, blooms of A. minutum were recurrent in small, shallow estuarine bays inside the Rías de Vigo and Pontevedra, but rarely detected, and if so at low concentrations, out of these environments. However, from May to July 2018 it developed as usual in the small inner bays but then spread over both Rías (Vigo and Pontevedra) causing discoloured waters during one month and prolonged harvesting closures. Meteorological conditions during that period (rains / runoff higher than climatological averages, sustained temperature increment and oscillating wind pattern –i.e., series of upwelling-relaxation cycles), fostered optimal circumstances for the development of that extensive and massive proliferation: strong vertical stratification and the alternation of retention and dispersion processes. Simulations from a particle tracking model portrayed the observed bloom development phases: onset and development inside a small inner bay; transport within the surface layer, from these sites towards the interior parts of the Ría; and dispersion all over the embayment. Seedbeds with high concentrations of resting cysts were detected several months after the bloom, which may have favoured flourishment of A. minutum in the following two years, markedly in 2020. The present work contributes to the general understanding of the dynamics of harmful algal blooms (HABs), from which surveillance indicators of the state of marine ecosystems and their evolution can be derived. We hypothesize that the intensity and frequency of A. minutum proliferations in the Galician Rías could increase under projected climate trends.

The toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum affects oyster gamete health and fertilization potential

Dinoflagellates from the globally distributed genus Alexandrium are known to produce both paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) and uncharacterized bioactive extracellular compounds (BEC) with allelopathic, ichthyotoxic, hemolytic and cytotoxic activities. In France, blooms of Alexandrium minutum appear generally during the spawning period of most bivalves. These blooms could therefore alter gametes and/or larval development of bivalves, causing severe issues for ecologically and economically important species, such as the Pacific oyster Crassostrea (=Magallana) gigas. The aim of this work was to test the effects of three strains of A. minutum producing either only PST, only BEC, or both PST and BEC upon oyster gametes, and potential consequences on fertilization success. Oocytes and spermatozoa were exposed in vitro for 2 h to a range of environmentally realistic A. minutum concentrations (10–2.5 × 104 cells mL−1). Following exposure, gamete viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were assessed by flow cytometry, spermatozoa motility and fertilization capacities of both spermatozoa and oocytes were analysed by microscopy. Viability and fertilization capacity of spermatozoa and oocytes were drastically reduced following exposure to 2.5 × 104 cells mL−1 of A. minutum. The BEC-producing strain was the most potent strain decreasing spermatozoa motility, increasing ROS production of oocytes, and decreasing fertilization, from the concentration of 2.5 × 103 cells mL−1. This study highlights the significant cellular toxicity of the BEC produced by A. minutum on oyster gametes. Physical contact between gametes and motile thecate A. minutum cells may also contribute to alter oyster gamete integrity. These results suggest that oyster gametes exposure to A. minutum blooms could affect oyster fertility and reproduction success.

Algal blooms of Alexandrium spp. and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxicity events in mussels farmed in Sicily.

Marine biotoxins can accumulate in filter- feeders bivalve molluscs, that may represent a source of potential health problems being vectors of toxins, that are transferred to humans through their consumption. Harmful Algal Blooms impact on aquaculture may give also economic losses due to temporary closures of contaminated shellfish harvest and marketing. The presence of toxic algae for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP), with recurrent toxic blooms of dinoflagellates, such as several Alexandrium species, been known since 2000 in the waters of an Ionian bay of Sicily, the Syracuse harbour, where shellfish farms are located. Our previous works reported in this area the positivity for PSP toxin in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) with saxitoxin concentrations above the limit of the law and the simultaneous presence of toxic species of the genus Alexandrium in the waters. This work reports new recent episodes of algal blooms of Alexandrium minutum in the waters of the Syracuse harbour and PSP toxin contamination in farmed mussels, with values beyond the limits established by law, with the consequent immediate closure of the production area. PSP toxicity was detected with the MBA (Mouse Bioassay) with the confirm carried out with Lawrence method to quantify the total saxitoxin equivalents and characterize the toxic profile. Regular application of the implemented health plan is very important in order to prevent any risk and protect consumer health.

Toxic marine microalgae and noxious blooms in the Mediterranean Sea: A contribution to the Global HAB Status Report

We review the spatial distribution of toxic marine microalgal species and the impacts of all types of harmful algal events (Harmful Algal Blooms, HABs) in the Mediterranean Sea (MS), including the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, coastal lagoons and transitional waters, based on two databases compiled in the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). Eighty-four potentially toxic species have been detected in the MS (2,350 records), of which 16 described from these waters between 1860 and 2014 and a few suspected to have been introduced. More than half of these species (46) produce toxins that may affect human health, the remainders ichthyotoxic substances (29) or other types of toxins (9). Nevertheless, toxicity-related events are not frequent in the MS (308 records in 31 years), and mainly consist of impacts on aquaculture, caused by the dinoflagellates Dinophysis and Alexandrium, along with a few actual shellfish poisoning cases. Pseudo-nitzschia blooms are widespread, but domoic acid in shellfish rarely exceeds regulatory levels. Fish kills are probably less sporadic than reported, representing a problem at a few places along the southern MS coasts and in the Ebro River Delta. Since the last decade of the 20th century, blooms of the benthic dinoflagellates Ostreopsis cf. ovata have regularly occurred all along rocky shores of the MS, at times with human health problems caused by toxic aerosol. New records of Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa, until now reported for the westernmost and easternmost MS coasts, raise concerns about the risk of ciguatera, a syndrome so far known only for subtropical and tropical areas. Recent discoveries are the dinoflagellates Vulcanodinium rugosum, responsible for the presence of pinnatoxins in French lagoons’ shellfish, and the azaspiracid-producers Azadinium spp. Mucilages and discolorations have a major impact on tourism in summer. Reports of toxic species and HABs have apparently increased in the MS over the last half century, which is likely related to the increased awareness and monitoring operations rather than to an actual increase of these phenomena. Indeed, while the case of Ostreopsis appears as a sudden upsurge rather than a trend, no actual increase of toxic or noxious events has so far emerged in intensively studied areas, such as the French and Spanish coasts or the Adriatic Sea. Moreover, some cases of decrease are reported, e.g., for Alexandrium minutum blooms disappearing from the Harbour of Alexandria. Overall, main HAB risks derive from cases of massive development of microalgal biomass and consequent impacts of reduced coastal water quality on tourism, which represents the largest part of the marine economy along the MS coasts.

Cryptic species in the parasitic Amoebophrya species complex revealed by a polyphasic approach

As critical primary producers and recyclers of organic matter, the diversity of marine protists has been extensively explored by high-throughput barcode sequencing. However, classification of short metabarcoding sequences into traditional taxonomic units is not trivial, especially for lineages mainly known by their genetic fingerprints. This is the case for the widespread Amoebophrya ceratii species complex, parasites of their dinoflagellate congeners. We used genetic and phenotypic characters, applied to 119 Amoebophrya individuals sampled from the same geographic area, to construct practical guidelines for species delineation that could be applied in DNA/RNA based diversity analyses. Based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, ITS2 compensatory base changes (CBC) and genome k-mer comparisons, we unambiguously defined eight cryptic species among closely related ribotypes that differed by less than 97% sequence identity in their SSU rDNA. We then followed the genetic signatures of these parasitic species during a three-year survey of Alexandrium minutum blooms. We showed that these cryptic Amoebophrya species co-occurred and shared the same ecological niche. We also observed a maximal ecological fitness for parasites having narrow to intermediate host ranges, reflecting a high cost for infecting a broader host range. This study suggests that a complete taxonomic revision of these parasitic dinoflagellates is long overdue to understand their diversity and ecological role in the marine plankton.

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum affects development of the oyster Crassostrea gigas, through parental or direct exposure

Harmful algal blooms are a threat to aquatic organisms and coastal ecosystems. Among harmful species, the widespread distributed genus Alexandrium is of global importance. This genus is well-known for the synthesis of paralytic shellfish toxins which are toxic for humans through the consumption of contaminated shellfish. While the effects of Alexandrium species upon the physiology of bivalves are now well documented, consequences on reproduction remain poorly studied. In France, Alexandrium minutum blooms have been recurrent for the last decades, generally appearing during the reproduction season of most bivalves including the oyster Crassostrea gigas. These blooms could not only affect gametogenesis but also spawning, larval development or juvenile recruitment. This study assesses the effect of toxic A. minutum blooms on C. gigas reproduction. Adult oysters were experimentally exposed to A. minutum, at environmentally realistic concentrations (102 to 103 cells mL−1) for two months during their gametogenesis and a control group, not exposed to A. minutum was fed with a non-toxic dinoflagellate. To determine both consequences to next generation and direct effects of A. minutum exposure on larvae, the embryo-larval development of subsequent offspring was conducted with and without A. minutum exposure at 102 cells mL−1. Effects at each stage of the reproduction were investigated on ecophysiological parameters, cellular responses, and offspring development. Broodstock exposed to A. minutum produced spermatozoa with decreased motility and larvae of smaller size which showed higher mortalities during settlement. Embryo-larval exposure to A. minutum significantly reduced growth and settlement of larvae compared to non-exposed offspring. This detrimental consequence on larval growth was stronger in larvae derived from control parents compared to offspring from exposed parents. This study provides evidence that A. minutum blooms, whether they occur during gametogenesis, spawning or larval development, can either affect gamete quality and/or larval development of C. gigas, thus potentially impacting oyster recruitment.

First detection of tetrodotoxin and high levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in shellfish from Sicily (Italy) by three different analytical methods

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) are naturally-occurring toxins that may contaminate the food chain, inducing similar neurological symptoms in humans. They are co-extracted under the same conditions and thus their combined detection is desirable. Whilst PST are regulated and officially monitored in Europe, more data on TTX occurrence in bivalves and gastropods are needed before meaningful regulations can be established. In this study, we used three separate analytical methods - pre-column oxidation with liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection, ultrahigh performance hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and HILIC high resolution (HR) MS/MS - to investigate the presence of PST and TTX in seawater and shellfish (mussels, clams) collected in spring summer 2015 to 2017 in the Mediterranean Sea. Samples were collected at 10 sites in the Syracuse Bay (Sicily, Italy) in concomitance with a mixed bloom of Alexandrium minutum and A. pacificum. A very high PST contamination in mussels emerged, unprecedentedly found in Italy, with maximum total concentration of 10851 μg saxitoxin equivalents per kg of shellfish tissue measured in 2016. In addition, for the first time TTX was detected in Italy in most of the analysed samples in the range 0.8–6.4 μg TTX eq/kg. The recurring blooms of PST-producing species over the 3-year period, the high PST levels and the first finding of TTX in mussels from the Syracuse bay, suggest that monitoring programmes of PST and TTX in seafood should be activated in this geographical area.

Life-history stages of natural bloom populations and the bloom dynamics of a tropical Asian ribotype of Alexandrium minutum

In 2015, a remarkably high density bloom of Alexandrium minutum occurred in Sungai Geting, a semi-enclosed lagoon situated in the northeast of Peninsular Malaysia, causing severe discoloration and contaminated the benthic clams (Polymesoda). Plankton and water samples were collected to investigate the mechanisms of bloom development of this toxic species. Analysis of bloom samples using flow cytometry indicated that the bloom was initiated by the process of active excystment, as planomycetes (>4C cells) were observed in the early stage of the bloom. Increase in planozygotes (2C cells) was evident during the middle stage of the bloom, coinciding with an abrupt decrease in salinity and increase of temperature. The bloom was sustained through the combination of binary division of vegetative cells, division of planozygotes, and cyst germination through continuous excystment. Nutrient depletion followed by precipitation subsequently caused the bloom to terminate. This study provides the first continuous record of in situ life-cycle stages of a natural bloom population of A. minutum through a complete bloom cycle. The event has provided a fundamental understanding of the pelagic life-cycle stages of this tropical dinoflagellate, and demonstrated a unique bloom development characteristic shared among toxic Alexandrium species in coastal embayments.

Remodeling of the cycling transcriptome of the oyster Crassostrea gigas by the harmful algae Alexandrium minutum

As a marine organism, the oyster Crassostrea gigas inhabits a complex biotope governed by interactions between the moon and the sun cycles. We used next-generation sequencing to investigate temporal regulation of oysters under light/dark entrainment and the impact of harmful algal exposure. We found that ≈6% of the gills’ transcriptome exhibits circadian expression, characterized by a nocturnal and bimodal pattern. Surprisingly, a higher number of ultradian transcripts were also detected under solely circadian entrainment. The results showed that a bloom of Alexandrium minutum generated a remodeling of the bivalve’s temporal structure, characterized by a loss of oscillations, a genesis of de novo oscillating transcripts, and a switch in the period of oscillations. These findings provide unprecedented insights into the diurnal landscape of the oyster’s transcriptome and pleiotropic remodeling due to toxic algae exposure, revealing the intrinsic plasticity of the cycling transcriptome in oysters.

Influence of gametogenesis pattern and sex on paralytic shellfish toxin levels in triploid Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas exposed to a natural bloom of Alexandrium minutum

This study investigated the effect of gametogenesis pattern and sex on levels of paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) accumulated by triploid oysters Crassostrea gigas exposed to a natural bloom of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum in the Bay of Brest (Western Brittany, France), over the summer 2014. Toxin accumulation in oysters was proposed to be influenced by the proportion of energy allocated to reproduction versus other metabolisms, as proposed by Haberkorn et al. (2010). Thus, we hypothesized that triploid oysters with different gametogenesis patterns (α or β, producing respectively numerous gametes or rare gametes) could result in differences in toxin accumulation. Toxin level could also be different according to the gender of the oysters. To test these hypotheses, PST levels were measured in the digestive gland of oysters using an ELISA method. Sex, gametogenesis stage and pattern (α or β) of the triploid oysters were determined by histology. Males (24%), females (38%) and hermaphrodites (38%), including synchronous or successive hermaphrodites were represented among the sampled oysters. All of them were at mature stage (III) of gametogenesis. Both α (46%) and β (54%) patterns were represented in the sample set. In these oysters, PST levels appeared independent from sex and gametogenesis pattern. These results suggest that, in triploid oysters, PST accumulation is not influenced by energy allocated to reproduction. Statement of relevanceThis study appears to be the first to investigate toxin levels depending on gametogenesis pattern in triploid oysters.This study highlighted that triploid oysters were divided into two classes, α (triploid oysters that maturate with unlocked germ cells and have a consequent number of gametes) and β (triploid oysters that display strongly reduced number of gametes and locked gonial mitosis), with the latter class subdivided into two categories: β1, which presents no germinal cell lineage, and β2, which presents germinal cell lineage.This study showed that toxin levels in the digestive glands of triploids were not significantly different, neither between gametogenesis patterns nor between sexes. Additionally, despite the different patterns of gametogenesis in the triploid oysters of the present study, no difference in toxin levels accumulated in the digestive glands was detected between α and β oysters, suggesting that reproductive investment in triploid oysters does not influence toxin accumulation.

Immunological and physiological responses of the periwinkle Littorina littorea during and after exposure to the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum

Species of the dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium produce phycotoxins responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning. Blooms of Alexandrium minutum reach very high concentrations of vegetative cells in the water column; and when these blooms occur, large numbers of toxic cysts can be produced and deposited on sediments becoming available to benthic species. The present study investigated the potential effect of exposure to toxic cysts of A. minutum on the periwinkle Littorinalittorea. Snails were exposed for nine days to pellicle cysts of toxic and non-toxic dinoflagellates, A. minutum and Heterocapsa triquetra, respectively, followed by six days of depuration while they were fed only H. triquetra. Toxin accumulation, condition index, immune and histopathological responses were analyzed. Histological alterations were also monitored in snails exposed to a harmful A. minutum bloom, which naturally occurred in the Bay of Brest. Snails exposed to toxic cysts showed abnormal behavior that seems to be toxin-induced and possibly related to muscle paralysis. Periwinkles accumulated toxins by preying on toxic cysts and accumulation appeared dependent on the time of exposure, increasing during intoxication period but tending to stabilize during depuration period. Toxic exposure also seemed to negatively affect hemocyte viability and functions, as ROS production and phagocytosis. Histological analyses revealed that toxic exposure induced damages on digestive organs of snails, both in laboratory and natural systems. This study demonstrates that an exposure to the toxic dinoflagellate A. minutum leads to sublethal effects on L. littorea, which may alter individual fitness and increase the susceptibility of snails to pathogens and diseases.

First report of a massive bloom of Alexandrium minutum (Dinophyceae) in middle North Atlantic: A coastal lagoon in S. Jorge Island, Azores

This is the first report of a bloom of the toxic marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum in the Azores Archipelago (Northeastern Atlantic Ocean). In September 2013, high cell concentrations (1.3 × 107 cells L−1) of this species were recorded in Santo Cristo coastal lagoon causing an orange-brown water discoloration, death of small pelagic fish and toxification of shellfish resources (Ruditapes decussatus). Levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxins in clams exceeded 30 times the regulatory limit, and were associated with the intoxication of four people.

The influence of bloom intensity on the encystment rate and persistence of Alexandrium minutum in Cork Harbor, Ireland

Toxic Alexandrium minutum blooms recur annually in Cork Harbor, Ireland where they initiate in an inlet known as the North Channel. The dynamics of these blooms have been studied since 2003, and a high degree of inter-annual variability in the cell densities has been observed. Two intense blooms, with maximum cell densities >500,000cellsL−1, were observed in the summers of 2004 and 2011. Annual cyst surveys during winter found that cyst densities decreased after the 2004 bloom, and by 2010 an average of ca. 40 cystsg dry wt sediment−1 was recorded. The intensity of blooms was found to be independent of the cyst density measured the previous winter. The cyst input to the sediment during both intense and low density blooms was measured directly through the deployment of sediment traps in the North Channel. The data allowed an estimate of the proportion of the A. minutum vegetative cells that underwent successful encystment, which averaged at 2.5% across a range of cell densities spanning three orders of magnitude. Maturation times of fresh cysts were determined at 5, 10 and 15°C. The maturation time at 15°C was found to be approximately 5 months, a value which increased by two months for a 5° decrease in temperature. A cyst dynamics model was constructed based on the field data to simulate the temporal variation of A. minutum cysts in the oxic layer of sediment. It revealed that a degree of resuspension is required to prevent cyst stocks from becoming exhausted in the thin oxic layer at the surface of the sediment. The model also demonstrated that the cysts supplied by periodic intense blooms, which occur with a frequency of every 7–8 years, are not in themselves enough to allow the population to persist over long time scales (decades). The cyst input from interim blooms of lower density is however enough to ensure the annual inoculation of the water column with A. minutum cells.

Factors determining the dynamics of toxic blooms of Alexandrium minutum during a 10-year study along the shallow southwestern Mediterranean coasts

Many blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum have been recorded since 1990 in the Gulf of Gabes (southwestern Mediterranean Sea). To understand the determining factors of bloom formation, we studied the distribution of A. minutum in relation to environmental factors in samples taken at shallow sandy (<1 m) beach stations and a lagoon between 1997 and 2006. This was accompanied by laboratory experiments to identify A. minutum. The species forms harmful algal blooms (HABs) in stations subjected to anthropogenic eutrophication and in confined lagoons, living under conditions of varying salinity which gives it a unique opportunity to broaden its physiological tolerance and increase its colonisation potential. Increases in phosphorus appear to be more important than nitrogen or temperature in the control of A. minutum. The stations sampled all along the coast present specific hydrographic properties (shallowness, turbulence) suggesting that factors other than temperature and nutrients influence Alexandrium distribution, the exception being Boughrara Lagoon where the species developed in accordance with published data. Our findings and their interpretations indicate that the mechanism of the sudden A. minutum blooms along the nearshore of the Gulf of Gabes was complex and differed from that of true coastal ecosystems.

Life-cycle alternations in Alexandrium minutum natural populations from the NW Mediterranean Sea

Life-cycle transitions play a key role in the bloom dynamics of many dinoflagellates. In this study, in situ excystment and encystment were monitored during recurrent Alexandrium minutum blooms in Arenys de Mar harbor (NW Mediterranean Sea) from October 2005 to May 2008. In addition, the dynamics of vegetative cells in the water column and resting cysts in the sediments were assessed. Excystment occurred continuously during the period studied. The excystment fluxes and the estimated excystment percentages indicated a pattern of alternating reduced and active excystment periods. From July to November, excystment percentages were <0.1%, whereas from December to June the A. minutum population underwent active excystment, with excystment percentages of 0.3–45.7%. Periods of active excystment coincided with increases in irradiance and water temperature, conditions also favorable for bloom development. During vegetative cell blooms, resting cyst formation coincided with periods marked by vegetative cell abundances in the water column of >2×103cellsl−1. Resting cyst fluxes were higher when the abundance of vegetative cells in the overlying water column was greater. The excystment and encystment processes overlapped for 2 months during the extended blooms, indicating that newly formed resting cysts had overcome the mandatory dormancy period and were capable of germinating within the same bloom in which they were produced. Resting cysts in the surface sediment were rapidly depleted during periods of active excystment, but their production, although involving only a small fraction of the vegetative population, more than compensated for their loss. These results are discussed with respect to the role of frequent life-stage switches in determining the population dynamics and the maintenance of A. minutum blooms.

Bloom dynamics and life cycle strategies of two toxic dinoflagellates in a coastal upwelling system (NW Iberian Peninsula)

A study of Gymnodinium catenatum and Alexandrium minutum blooms on the Galician coast was conducted from 2005 to 2007 in order to increase knowledge of the mechanisms governing recurrent blooms of these species. Considerable differences in their bloom dynamics were observed. G. catenatum blooms occurred in autumn and winter, following the pattern previously reported in the literature: they began off-shore and were advected to the Galician rias when a relaxation of the coastal upwelling occurred. On the other hand, A. minutum blooms developed inside embayments in spring and summer during the upwelling season and were associated with water stability and stratification. Both the vegetative population and the cyst distribution of A. minutum were related to less saline water from freshwater river outputs, which support a saline-gradient relationship postulated herein for this species. Dinoflagellates may produce both long-term double-walled cysts (resting) and short-term pellicle cysts. Resting cyst deposition and distribution in sediments showed that seeding occurred during the blooms of both species. However, the relationship between the cyst distribution in the sediments in Baiona Bay and the intensity and occurrence of G. catenatum blooms, suggests that the latter are not directly related to resting cyst germination. Moreover, the results presented in the present study point to other difference between the two species, such as the detection of pellicle cysts only for A. minutum. Finally, we discuss how the life cycle strategies of these two species may help to explain the different mechanisms of bloom formation reported herein.

The role of resting cysts in Alexandrium minutum population dynamics

Abstract The role of resting cysts on the development of Alexandrium minutum blooms in a typical Mediterranean semi-enclosed water body (Arenys de Mar Harbor, NW Mediterranean) was studied by means of matrix and dynamic population models. We used a series of scenarios, constrained when possible by experimentally measured parameters to test whether excystment and encystment fluxes and changes in the dormancy period had a major effect on bloom intensity and duration. The results of the simulations highlighted the importance of knowing not only the magnitude and variability of growth and life-cycle transition rates, but also those of loss rates (both in the water column and in the sediment) due to physical or biological factors. Given the maximum encystment rates determined for A. minutum in the study area (0.01 d −1 ), this process contributed to reduce the peak concentrations of vegetative cells but did not have a dominant effect on bloom termination. Excystment fluxes could contribute to enhance population densities of vegetative cells during times or low or negative net growth rate and during the initial phases of a bloom, but once exponential growth had started, additional excystment had negligible effect on bloom magnitude. However, even if cysts did not contribute to larger blooms, they could represent a safety mechanism for reintroduction of the species when the vegetative cell population went extinct due to unfavorable environmental conditions. Increasing the dormancy time exposed newly formed cysts to a longer period of losses in the sediment that reduced the concentration of excystment-ready sediment cysts and decreased excystment fluxes. More complex models will be needed to explore the implications of different life-cycle strategies in a wider natural ecological context.

Phosphorus dynamics and bioavailability in sediments of the Penzé Estuary (NW France): in relation to annual P-fluxes and occurrences of Alexandrium Minutum

The macrotidal estuary of Penzé (Brittany, Western part of the Channel, France) has been subjected to recurrent annual toxic blooms of Alexandrium minutum since 1988. This study aims to specify the phosphorus dynamics and bioavailability in sediments in order to improve our understanding of Alexandrium occurrences. Sediment-P pools and diffusive phosphate fluxes were studied under similar hydrodynamic conditions, in the intermediate estuary in May, June and July 2003 and along the salinity gradient from August 2004 to June 2005. The results highlight a decrease in bioavailable phosphorus (iron and organic bound) from the inner part of the estuary seaward. The ratio of iron-bound phosphorus to iron-oxyhydroxides is lower in the inner and intermediate estuaries (5–8) than in the outer site (15), suggesting a saturation of sorption sites and greater phosphorus bioavailability in this area. Pools of bioavailable phosphorus in surficial sediments are about eight times higher than the annual net-export of P (7 ton year−1). Phosphate releases from sediments are always lower than 5 μmol m−2 d−1 in March. The highest supplies occur in June and August in the intermediate area (up to 400 μmol m−2 d−1) where they represent up to 50% of river loadings. These results further suggest that phosphate pulses coincide with occurrences of Alexandrium reported in June.

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum in Cape Town harbour (South Africa): Bloom characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and toxin composition

A novel bloom of Alexandrium minutum occurred in an inner basin of the Cape Town harbour from November 2003 to February 2004. Cellular concentrations reached a maximum of 1.4 × 10 8 cells l −1 during the mid-December period with corresponding chlorophyll a concentrations of 243 mg m −3. Primary productivity measurements conducted during the latter part of the bloom revealed a maximum assimilation number of 11.17 mg C mg Chl a −1 h −1 during the middle of the day. Productivity during this post-peak period was sustained largely by the reduced nitrogen species NH 4 and urea (96%) as measured using 15N tracer techniques. The large subunit ribosomal DNA sequence of A. minutum isolates from Cape Town harbour was identical to conspecifics collected in Western Europe and in Australia. The composition of tetrahydropurine neurotoxins associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) was limited to gonyautoxins (GTX1-GTX4). This profile combined with evidence of a low toxin cell quota (1.5 fmol GTX cell −1) supports a close association of this taxon with other members of the A. minutum species complex, particularly from Europe. Toxin analysis from black mussels collected during this bloom indicated that the accumulated PSP toxins originated from A. minutum and not from Alexandrium catenella as is most often the case along the South African coast.