Publication Date:
2021-06-23
Description:
Azaspiracids (AZA) are lipophilic marine biotoxins associated with shellfish poisoning which are produced
by some species of Amphidomataceae. Diversity and global biogeography of this family are still
poorly known. In summer 2017 plankton samples were collected from the central Labrador Sea and
western Greenland coast from 64° N (Gothaab Fjord) to 75° N for the presence of Amphidomataceae and
AZA. In the central Labrador Sea, light microscopy revealed small Azadinium-like cells (9200 cells l−1).
Clonal strains established from plankton samples and scanning electron microscopy of fixed plankton
samples revealed at least eight species of Amphidomataceae: Azadinium obesum, Az. trinitatum, Az.
dexteroporum, Az. spinosum, Az. polongum, Amphidoma languida, Azadinium spec., and a new species
described here as Azadinium perforatum sp. nov. The new species differed from other Azadinium species
by the presence of thecal pores on the pore plate. All samples, including cultured strains, filtered
seawater samples, and solid phase adsorption toxin tracking (SPATT) samplers deployed during the
expedition in a continuous water-sampling system (FerryBox), were negative for AZA. DNA samples and
PCR assays were positive for Amphidomataceae from most stations, whereas species-specific assays for
three toxigenic species were rarely positive (two stations for Az. poporum, one station for Am. languida).
The results highlight the presence of Amphidomataceae in the area but the lack of toxins and low
abundance of toxigenic species currently indicate a low risk of toxic Amphidomataceae blooms in Arctic
coastal waters.
Repository Name:
EPIC Alfred Wegener Institut
Type:
Article
,
isiRev
Format:
application/pdf
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