The influence of salinity in the domoic acid effect on estuarine phytoplankton communities

In this study, the environmental factors driving the growth of Pseudo-nitzschia and the production of dissolved DA (dDA) in North Inlet estuary were examined. The effect of salinity on the growth inhibition of phytoplankton induced by the initial presence as well as by an addition of dDA was also assessed. Initially, the diatom abundance was negatively correlated with the abundance of Pseudo-nitzschia and with the concentration of dDA. With the addition of a concentrated solution of dDA, the percent inhibition of cryptophytes and diatoms was significantly correlated with salinity and suggested a higher sensitivity to dDA at extreme salinities. These results emphasize the importance of salinity in assessing the properties of DA and potentially of other phycotoxins on phytoplankton.
Source: Harmful Algae - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research