Dead bleached coral provides new surfaces for dinoflagellates implicated in ciguatera fish poisonings

Kohler, Susan T.; Kohler, Christopher C.

doi:10.1007/bf00004993

Cited by 40 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Gambierdiscus spp. have been observed on many different types of substrate, including a variety of algal species and dead coral (Besada et al 1982, Taylor 1985, Anderson & Lobel 1987, Kohler & Kohler 1992, Parsons & Preskitt 2007, although experimental studies have showed that algal exudates can either be stimulatory or inhibitory to Gambierdiscus growth , Taylor 1985, Bomber et al 1989, Grzebyk et al 1994. Gillespie et al (1985) described Gambierdiscus as 'opportunistic' with respect to substrate; in our surveys Gambierdiscus appeared to be opportunistic with respect to habitat as well, a quality that may help explain the inconsistencies in habitat preferences among past ecological studies.…”

Section: Influence Of Environmental Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Benthic dinoflagellates that inhabit this canopy occupy space on a particular substrate in several ways, and the manner in which they associate with the substrate likely changes with the intensity of water motion. Dinoflagellates have alternately been observed directly adhering to the macroalgal surface in a mucoid matrix (Yasumoto et al 1980, Fukuyo 1981, Besada et al 1982, Ballantine et al 1988, inhabiting surface sediments and detritus (Kohler & Kohler 1992), suspended from the substrate using mucus threads (Besada et al 1982, Nakahara et al 1996, and some species also remain motile, swimming freely around the macroalgae thalli (Nakahara et al 1996). In turbulent conditions, the complexity of the benthic canopy is greatly curtailed and available substrate would be restricted to space available on the macroalgae thallus for direct adherence by the dinoflagellates (Vila et al 2001).…”

Section: Influence Of Environmental Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effects of depth, habitat, and water motion on the abundance and distribution of ciguatera dinoflagellates at Johnston Atoll, Pacific Ocean

Richlen¹,

Lobel²

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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A major impediment to understanding the seemingly random occurrence of ciguatera toxicity is uncertainty regarding the field ecology of benthic dinoflagellates that introduce toxins into the coral reef food web. Although broad generalizations have been made, past studies have often yielded contradictory results, particularly between ecological patterns documented in the Pacific versus the Caribbean. This study employed standardized methodology to investigate the distribution and abundance of toxigenic benthic dinoflagellates from the genera Gambierdiscus, Prorocentrum, Ostreopsis, and Amphidinium at Johnston Atoll, Pacific Ocean, to determine how water motion, depth and habitat type influence patterns of biodiversity. Sampling stations located in lagoon and channel habitats in the atoll supported the highest total dinoflagellate abundance, while dinoflagellate numbers were lower at sampling stations in back reef and reef crest habitats. Total dinoflagellate abundance was primarily determined by the degree of water motion; however, this effect varied among genera. Of the 4 genera surveyed, 3 (Gambierdiscus, Prorocentrum, Amphidinium) were negatively correlated with water motion; conversely, Ostreopsis had a positive correlation. Habitat separation was observed between Ostreopsis and Prorocentrum spp., which were negatively correlated. Gambierdiscus was present at all sampling stations and at all habitats, even though it was rarely the dominant genus. This study provides a characterization of the ciguatera dinoflagellate community across a variety of coral reef habitats, contributing to an accurate and coherent characterization of the population dynamics of this important dinoflagellate community.KEY WORDS: Ciguatera fish poisoning · Gambierdiscus · Prorocentrum · Ostreopsis · Johnston Atoll · Epiphytic · Coral reefs Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

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Section: Influence Of Environmental Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Influence Of Environmental Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of depth, habitat, and water motion on the abundance and distribution of ciguatera dinoflagellates at Johnston Atoll, Pacific Ocean

Richlen¹,

Lobel²

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…For example, the number of G. toxicus cells on the surface of a specific algal host can vary by an order of magnitude between individuals of the alga only 5-10 cm apart (Taylor and Gustavson, 1985). Similarly, long-term monitoring efforts have often quantified population explosions of a few orders of magnitude (Carlson, 1984;Carlson and Tindall, 1985;Thomassin et al, 1992;Turquet et al, 1998Turquet et al, , 2001, and have related such differences to seasonal cycles in rainfall (Carlson and Tindall, 1985;Thomassin et al, 1992), temperature (Chateau-Degat et al, 2005) or to environmental disturbances that clear substrates which can be colonized by algae, thus creating readily available substrate for the dinoflagellate (Inoue and Gawel, 1986;Kohler and Kohler, 1992;Kaly and Jones, 1994;Chinain et al, 1999b;Turquet et al, 2001, but see McCaffrey et al, 1992.…”

Section: Distribution Patterns Of Gambierdiscus Toxicus On Macroalgaementioning

confidence: 95%

Macroalgal palatability and the flux of ciguatera toxins through marine food webs

Cruz‐Rivera¹,

Villareal²

2006

Harmful Algae

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“…CFP outbreaks have long been associated with ecological disturbances to reef environments, likely due to proliferation of Gambierdiscus' preferred substrates of algae and dead coral (Kohlerl & Kohler, 1992). After nuclear testing in the Pacific, many islands where the coral reefs were damaged then suffered outbreaks of ciguatera (Ruff, 1989).…”

Section: Ciguatera Fish Poisoningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fleming et al, 2006). CFP outbreaks have long been associated with ecological disturbances to reef environments, likely due to proliferation of Gambierdiscus' preferred substrates of algae and dead coral (Kohlerl & Kohler, 1992;Ruff, 1989). This presents an added concern that as the health of global coral reefs suffer due to damage from overfishing, pollution, and bleaching events, the threat of CFP will increase concurrently.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotypic diversity within two toxic dinoflagellate genera: environmental and transcriptomic studies of species diversity in Alexandrium and Gambierdiscus

Pitz¹

2016

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Dinoflagellates are a diverse group of single-celled eukaryotic phytoplankton that are important for their unique genetics and molecular biology, the multitude of ecological roles they play, and the ability of multiple species to produce toxins that affect human and ecosystems health. Two dinoflagellate genera, Alexandrium and Gambierdiscus each contain species that can cause human poisoning syndromes, although the methods of toxin transfer, accumulation, and exposure are very different. Gambierdiscus is a benthic organism that produces lipophilic ciguatoxins that can bioaccumulate in coral reef fish and cause ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) in human consumers. Alexandrium is a planktonic species that produces saxitoxins that can directly accumulate in shellfish and cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in humans. Both genera contain multiple species that vary dramatically in toxicity and physiology. Through transcriptomic analysis, this thesis describes the genetic diversity present across dinoflagellates that produce saxitoxin, elaborating on differences in their complement of genes within the saxitoxin biosynthesis pathway. This study demonstrated retention and expression of some of these saxitoxin genes by non-toxic species within Alexandrium, as well as in Gambierdiscus, which does not produce saxitoxins. Furthermore it confirmed the presence of certain transcripts only in toxin-producing species. This thesis then developed novel fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes that can be used to identify and enumerate six Gambierdiscus species, thereby enabling the community composition of Gambierdiscus to be examined in a quantifiable manner. The probes were tested in the laboratory on cultures, and then successfully applied to field samples from Florida Keys and Hawai'i. Gambierdiscus species are diverse in both their toxicity and optimal temperature ranges for growth. Analysis of Gambierdiscus community composition in an area of variable temperature allowed the characterization of species shifts that were driven both by a seasonal increase in mean seawater temperatures and spatial variability of temperature experienced between tidal pools. Overall this thesis advances the knowledge of dinoflagellate genetics and ecology, aids in the characterization of species harmful to public health, and provides tools and approaches to help monitor and manage harmful effects from these species, including some that are projected to increase with climate change.

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Dead bleached coral provides new surfaces for dinoflagellates implicated in ciguatera fish poisonings

Cited by 40 publications

References 5 publications

Effects of depth, habitat, and water motion on the abundance and distribution of ciguatera dinoflagellates at Johnston Atoll, Pacific Ocean

Effects of depth, habitat, and water motion on the abundance and distribution of ciguatera dinoflagellates at Johnston Atoll, Pacific Ocean

Macroalgal palatability and the flux of ciguatera toxins through marine food webs

Phenotypic diversity within two toxic dinoflagellate genera: environmental and transcriptomic studies of species diversity in Alexandrium and Gambierdiscus

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