Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline

Jensen, Silje-Kristin; Lacaze, Jean-Pierre; Hermann, Guillaume; Kershaw, Joanna L.; Brownlow, Andrew; Turner, Andrew D.; Hall, Ailsa J.

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.02.002

Cited by 39 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…The exact pathways of winter toxin exposure to the sea lions remain unknown in this study. While domoic acid and PSTs have been detected in several benthic flatfish species (Vigilant & Silver 2007, Jensen et al 2015, consumption of flatfishes in this study dropped sharply in the winter. The most common prey items in winter scats containing saxitoxin were rockfish Sebastes spp.…”

Section: Toxin Retention In the Food Webcontrasting

confidence: 60%

“…Although Steller sea lions and California sea lions on the outer coast of Washington were more often exposed to saxitoxin than to domoic acid, both toxins were detected in scats in every season and month of the year. This finding suggests that both saxitoxin and domoic acid were either retained in the food web for long periods after blooms (Twiner et al 2011, Jensen et al 2015 or transferred from sediments or dormant cysts back into the marine food web (Vigilant & Silver 2007).…”

Section: Toxin Retention In the Food Webmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The diets of both Steller and California sea lions, composed of a variety of bony and cartilaginous fishes and cephalopods, are often dominated by only a few species (Sinclair & Zeppelin 2002, Orr et al 2011, although as many as 25 different prey items have been found in a single scat (Riemer et al 2011). Domoic acid and PSTs have been detected in both benthic and pelagic fish (Lefebvre et al 2002, Vigilant & Silver 2007, Jester et al 2009, Jensen et al 2015, suggesting that while a more diverse diet could lessen the effects of acute toxicity experienced by ingesting a single contaminated prey species, generalist predators are at risk of exposure from multiple prey items.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Year-round algal toxin exposure in free-ranging sea lions

Akmajian¹,

Scordino²,

Acevedo‐Gutiérrez³

2017

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Harmful algal bloom toxins cause illness and mortality in marine mammals worldwide, yet the potential for year-round exposure to these toxins has not previously been studied. We measured concentrations of domoic acid and saxitoxin in scats from Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus (n = 383 scats) and California sea lions Zalophus californianus (n = 125 scats) over a 2 yr period. Toxin concentrations in the scats were compared to the prey remains in the scats and to concentrations in nearshore bivalves. Saxitoxin was detected in 45% and domoic acid was detected in 17% of all scats tested, and both toxins were detected in all seasons and months of the year. A variety of benthic and pelagic fish were significantly associated with toxins in sea lion scats, including prey with low occurrence in the sea lions' diet. Toxins detected in winter scats confirm that US West Coast marine mammals are exposed to domoic acid and saxitoxin through their prey outside of the expected algal bloom seasons.

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Section: Toxin Retention In the Food Webcontrasting

confidence: 60%

Section: Toxin Retention In the Food Webmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Year-round algal toxin exposure in free-ranging sea lions

Akmajian¹,

Scordino²,

Acevedo‐Gutiérrez³

2017

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…In the United States, toxicity in shellfish is heavily monitored and thus rarely leads to human fatalities, but it has vast economic effects due to shellfish harvesting closures and loss of tourism and recreational water use . Within wild animal populations, PSP remains responsible for mortality events as well as ecosystem-level restructuring as it influences multiple trophic levels such as marine mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates (Jensen et al, 2015;Shumway, Allen, & Dee Boersma, 2003;Zimmer & Ferrer, 2007).…”

Section: Paralytic Shellfish Poisoningmentioning

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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“…In general, because of the low concentration of rare earth elements in the samples, the chemical properties is very similar, before the determination of the need for separation and enrichment, the complicated analysis process, the above analysis methods are subject to different degrees of matrix interference and coexisting element interference and in some cases, its application is seriously restricted [1][2][3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical Research on the Import and Export of Iron Ore and Harmful Element Detection Method based on Microwave Digestion Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Approach

Wu¹

2015

Proceedings of the 2015 Conference on Informatization in Education, Management and Business

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Abstract. In this paper, we conduct research on the import and export of iron ore and harmful element detection method based on microwave digestion inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry approach. Our country gradually increased demand for iron ore, iron ore trade, in order to ensure that the quality of the iron ore and taste which must be tested for total iron content. At the same time it also increased the demand for iron ore, although China's iron ore production has been greatly improved. Our proposed approach optimizes the traditional detection method which will be meaningful.

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Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline

Cited by 39 publications

References 57 publications

Year-round algal toxin exposure in free-ranging sea lions

Year-round algal toxin exposure in free-ranging sea lions

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

Theoretical Research on the Import and Export of Iron Ore and Harmful Element Detection Method based on Microwave Digestion Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Approach

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