The species check-lists are important to know the local biodiversity. If they are harmful and/or exotic they can cause environmental damages. The portuary regions' aquatic biota survey is valuable to inform which are the high risk species in the water (exotic or harmful species). The species can be caught when the ships are anchored in Parana harbors during the ballast taken. After that, these species can be transferred to the next harbor where it will be discharged, so it starts the biological invasion. In this article the marine and estuarine diatoms of Parana have been listed based on some issues that have been published since 1918 and over the results of ALARME Project (Ballast Water: Risk analysis, Environmental Management Plan and Monitoring of Exotic Species in Paranagua Harbor, Parana) in the Estuarine Paranagua Complex. An amount of 789 specific taxa was recorded and distributed in 167 genera on Parana shore. Among the 789 a number of 575 specific taxa is distributed in 152 genera which were recorded in the Estuarine Paranagua Complex. Some of these species are considered potentially harmful for their toxins production i. e. Amphora coffaeformis and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. The other ones have harmful effects because of anoxia due to the excess of biomass decomposed by bacteriae during the blooming periods. Furthermore it can happens excessive oxygen consumption by algae during breathing. These species are Asterionellopsis glaciallis, Cerataulina pelagica, Coscinodiscus spp, Cylindrotheca closterium, Leptocylindrus spp and Skeletonema costatum. Furthermore, Chaetoceros spp, have setae that damage the fishes' gills causing mass mortalities in some regions. Some species found in samples of the ALARME project are new records for the Parana coast such as Bellerochea horologicales, Biremis circumtexta, Gyrosigma macrum, Licmophora remulus, Nitzschia behrei, Pseudonitzschia calliantha, P. multisseries and Thalassiosira subtilis var. máxima.

Multiple species in the toxic marine diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia have been identified in the Northwestern Atlantic region encompassing the Gulf of Maine (GOM), including the Bay of Fundy (BOF). To gain further knowledge of the taxonomic composition and toxicity of species in this region, Pseudo-nitzschia isolates (n=146) were isolated from samples collected during research cruises that provided broad spatial coverage across the GOM and the southern New England shelf, herein referred to as the GOM region, during 2007-2008. Isolates, and cells in field material collected at 38 stations, were identified using electron microscopy (EM). Eight species (P. americana, P. fraudulenta, P. subpacifica, P. heimii, P. pungens, P. seriata, P. delicatissima and P. turgidula), and a novel form, Pseudo-nitzschia sp. GOM, were identified. Species identity was confirmed by sequencing the large subunit of the ribosomal rDNA (28S) and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) for six species (36 isolates). Phylogenetic analyses (including neighbor joining, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood estimates and ITS2 secondary structure analysis) and morphometric data supported the placement of P. sp. GOM in a novel clade that includes morphologically and genetically similar isolates from Australia and Spain and is genetically most similar to P. pseudodelicatissima and P. cuspidata. Seven species (46 isolates) were grown in nutrient-replete batch culture and aliquots consisting of cells and growth medium were screened by Biosense ASP ELISA to measure total domoic acid (DA) produced (intracellular + extracellular); P. americana and P. heimii were excluded from all toxin analyses as they did not persist in culture long enough for testing. All 46 isolates screened produced DA in culture and total DA varied among species (e.g., 0.04 to 320 ng ml-1 for P. pungens and P. sp. GOM isolates, respectively) and among isolates of the same species (e.g., 0.24 – 320 ng ml-1 for P. sp. GOM). The 15 most toxic isolates corresponded to P. seriata, P. sp. GOM and P. pungens, and fg DA cell-1 was determined for whole cultures (cells and medium) using ELISA and liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection (FLD); for seven isolates, toxin levels were also estimated using LC - with mass spectrometry and ultraviolet absorbance detection. Pseudo-nitzschia seriata was the most toxic species (up to 3,500 fg cell-1) and was observed in the GOM region during all cruises (i.e., during the months of April, May, June and October). Pseudo-nitzschia sp. GOM, observed only during September and October 2007, was less toxic (19 – 380 fg cell-1) than P. seriata but more toxic than P. pungens var. pungens (0. 4 fg cell-1). Quantitation of DA indicated that concentrations measured by LC and ELISA were positively and significantly correlated; the lower detection limit of the ELISA permitted quantification of toxicity in isolates that were found to be nontoxic with LC methods. The confirmation of at least seven toxic species and the broad spatial and temporal dis...

The seasonal variation of diatoms in the inshore waters off Paraná State, Southern Brazil was investigated to analyse their temporal dynamics and to detect the main environmental constraints of the planktonic community. Biomass peaks occurred from May to August and from December to March. Among the microplanktonic diatoms, Cerataulina pelagica, Chaetoceros spp., Dactyliosolen fragilissimus, Guinardia striata, Lauderia annulata, Leptocylindrus spp., Pseudo-nitzschia cf. delicatissima, P. australis, Rhizosolenia spp., Skeletonema costatum and Thalassionema nitzschioides were dominant species. Nanoplanktonic diatoms were dominated by Naviculaceae, Nitzschia spp., Thalassiosira spp. and Chaetoceros cf. tenuissimus. Concentrations of most of the species decreased during and just after the blooms of Phaeocystis pouchetii in September and of Coscinodiscus wailesii in April. Based on cluster analysis and interpretations of the environmental parameters monitored, six diatom associations were discerned. Four main environmental factors were attributed as the determinants for the grouping: (a) the stronger influence of the tropical oligotrophic waters of the Brazil Current in spring/summer, (b) the alternation between dry and rainy (nutrient-richer) seasons, (c) the influence of subantarctic waters mixed with coastal ones in fall/winter, bringing cold species and promoting the growth of autochthonous species, and (d) the blooms of nanoplanktonic (Phaeocystis) and microplanktonic (C. wailesii) species.
A variação sazonal das diatomáceas em águas neríticas do estado do Paraná, Sul do Brasil, foi investigada para analisar sua dinâmica temporal e detectar as principais forçantes ambientais da comunidade planctônica. Picos de biomassa ocorreram de Maio a Agosto e de Dezembro a Março. As espécies dominantes foram Cerataulina pelagica, Chaetoceros spp., Dactyliosolen fragilissimus, Guinardia striata, Lauderia annulata, Leptocylindrus spp., Pseudo-nitzschia cf. delicatissima, P. australis, Rhizosolenia spp., Skeletonema costatum e Thalassionema nitzschioides. Representantes de Naviculaceae, Nitzschia spp., Thalassiosira spp. e Chaetoceros cf. tenuissimus dominaram as diatomáceas nanoplanctônicas. As concentrações da maioria das espécies decresceram durante e logo após as florações de Phaeocystis pouchetii em Setembro, e de Coscinodiscus wailesii em Abril. Com base na análise de cluster e interpretações dos parâmetros ambientais monitorados, seis associações de diatomáceas foram discernidas. Quatro fatores ambientais principais foram atribuídos como determinantes para o grupamento: (a) influência mais forte de águas oligotróficas da Corrente do Brasil na Primavera/Verão, (b) alternância entre as estações chuvosa (rica em nutrientes) e seca, (c) influência de águas subantárticas enriquecidas misturadas às costeiras no Outono e Inverno, trazendo espécies de águas frias, além de promover o crescimento de autóctones, e (d) florações de espécies nanoplanctônicas (Phaeocystis) e microplanctônicas (C. wailesii)

Ostreopsis cf. ovata is a toxic marine benthic dinoflagellate responsible for harmful blooms affecting ecosystem and human health, mostly in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study we report the occurrence of a summer O. cf. ovata bloom in Currais, a coastal archipelago located on the subtropical Brazilian coast (~25° S). This bloom was very similar to Mediterranean episodes in many aspects: (a) field-sampled and cultivated O. cf. ovata cells aligned phylogenetically (ITS and LSU regions) along with Mediterranean strains; (b) the bloom occurred at increasing temperature and irradiance, and decreasing wind speed; (c) cell densities reached up to 8.0 × 104 cell cm−2 on fiberglass screen and 5.6 × 105 cell g−1 fresh weight on seaweeds; (d) and toxin profiles were composed mostly of ovatoxin-a (58%) and ovatoxin-b (32%), up to 35.5 pg PLTX-eq. cell−1 in total. Mussels were contaminated during the bloom with unsafe toxin levels (up to 131 µg PLTX-eq. kg−1). Ostreopsis cells attached to different plastic litter, indicating an alternate route for toxin transfer to marine fauna via ingestion of biofilm-coated plastic debris.

Coolia is a genus of marine benthic dinoflagellates which is widely distributed in tropical and temperate zones. Toxicity has been reported in selected Coolia species, although the identity of causative compounds is still controversial. In this study, we investigated the taxonomical and toxicological aspects of Coolia species from Brazil. Since light- and electron microscopy-based morphology was not enough to distinguish small-celled species, ITS and LSU D1-D3 phylogenetic analyses were used for species definition. Cultures of Coolia palmyrensis and Coolia santacroce were established from samples collected along the northeastern Brazilian coast, the first record of both species in South Atlantic waters. Cultures of Coolia malayensis and Coolia tropicalis were also established and exhibited acute in vivo toxicity to adults of Artemia salina, while C. palmyrensis and C. santacroce were non-toxic. The presence of 30 yessotoxin analogues, 7 metabolites of Coolia and 44 Gambierdiscus metabolites was screened in 14 strains of Coolia. 44-methyl gambierone (formerly referred to as MTX3) and a new isomer of this compound were detected only in C. tropicalis, using both low- and high-resolution LC-MS/MS. To our knowledge, this is the first report of gambierone analogues in dinoflagellates other than Gambierdiscus; the role of C. tropicalis in ciguatera poisoning thus deserves to be considered in further investigations.

No abstract

The paper reviews the taxonomic and ecological works on marine microalgae (phytoplankton and microphytobenthos) off Paraná State, Southeastern Brazil. Various studies refer to the taxonomy of benthic diatoms. Few descriptive field works in coastal and adjacent shelf waters contribute to the understanding of phytoplankton dynamics in coastal and shelf areas. Patterns of geographic distribution and changes in the phytoplankton community are described in relation to water masses and seasonal variations in the hydrographic regime. During summertime, when warm oligotrophic waters predominate over the shelf, the phytoplankton is nummerically dominated by small phytotlagellates, dinotlagellates, coccolithophorids and filaments of cyanobacteria. During wintertime, the abundance of micro-size diatoms over the shclf increase due to the dominance of cold nutrient-rich waters from the South Atlantic Central Water and wind-driven vertical circulation. The phytoplankton community off Paraná State may be classified into two categorics: the diatom-dominated coastal assemblage, mainly controlled by nutrient inputs from land drainage and ressuspension of bottom sediments, and the tlagellate-dominated shelf assemblage, more affectcd by the seasonality of local hydrographic regime.

The estuarine complex of Paranaguá - ECP (South Brazil, 25º30'S, 48º30'W) is a large subtropical system, where pristine mangrove forests are still present, and fishery and aquaculture are important economic activities. This work investigated the occurrence of harmful algae in Paranaguá Bay, as well as the presence of toxins in the filter feeding mussel Mytella guyanensis, a local fishery resource. Samples along the Paranaguá sub-system were collected almost monthly from August 2002 to October 2003. Besides physical and chemical variables, cell densities of harmful species and presence of toxins in the mussel by mouse bioassay (DSP, PSP) and HPLC (ASP) were performed. HAB species included Pseudo-nitzschia spp., Dinophysis acuminata,Prorocentrum minimum,Gymnodinium catenatum,Phaeocystis spp., Chattonella spp. and Heterosigma akashiwo.Trichodesmium erythraeum and Coscinodiscus wailesii were also included in this study due to their potential for harmful bloom formation. Toxin results showed the occurrence of DSP (December 2002) in shellfish related to the presence of D. acuminata (max. 4,566 cells.l-1). Additionally, cultivated strains produced paralytic and amnesic toxins in laboratory. Spring (October to December, Southern Hemisphere) and late summer (February to April) were the periods of higher abundance of harmful algae, mainly in euhaline and inner polyhaline sectors of the ECP.
O complexo estuarino de Paranaguá (CEP; 25º30'S, 48º30'W), localizado no litoral sul do Brasil, abriga extensas áreas preservadas de manguezais e tem a pesca e aqüicultura como importantes atividades econômicas. Este trabalho investigou a ocorrência de microalgas nocivas no CEP e a presença de ficotoxinas no molusco bivalve Mytella guyanensis. Para tanto, foram coletadas amostras com periodicidade aproximadamente mensal, entre agosto de 2002 e outubro de 2003. Foram avaliadas variáveis físico-químicas, densidade de espécies nocivas e a presença de toxinas nos moluscos através de bioensaio com camundongos (DSP e PSP) e por cromatografia líquida (ASP). As espécies nocivas encontradas foram Pseudo-nitzschia spp., Dinophysis acuminata,Prorocentrum minimum,Gymnodinium catenatum,Phaeocystis spp., Chattonella spp. e Heterosigma akashiwo. Além dessas, Trichodesmium erythraeum e Coscinodiscus wailesii foram também incluídas no estudo pelo potencial de produzirem eventos nocivos na região. Toxinas diarréicas (DSP) foram detectadas em moluscos em dezembro de 2002 associadas à presença de D. acuminata (até 4.566 cel.l-1). Toxinas paralisantes e amnésicas foram produzidas por cepas cultivadas em laboratório. Primavera (de outubro a dezembro no hemisfério Sul) e final do verão (fevereiro a abril) foram os períodos de maior abundância de algas nocivas principalmente nos setores euhalino e polihalino interno do CEP