The effects of elevated CO2 on the growth and toxicity of field populations and cultures of the saxitoxin‐producing dinoflagellate, Alexandrium fundyense. (31st December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hattenrath‐Lehmann, Theresa K.; Smith, Juliette L.; Wallace, Ryan B.; Merlo, Lucas R.; Koch, Florian; Mittelsdorf, Heidi; Goleski, Jennifer A.; Anderson, Donald M.; Gobler, Christopher J.
• Is Part Of: Limnology and oceanography. Volume 60:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 198
• Page End: 214
• Publication Date: 2014-12-31
• Subjects: Limnology -- Periodicals; Oceanography -- Periodicals; Océanographie; Limnologie; Limnology; Oceanography; Computer network resources; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); Periodicals; 551.4805
• DOI: 10.1002/lno.10012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0024-3590

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The effects of coastal acidification on the growth and toxicity of the saxitoxin‐producing dinoflagellate <italic>Alexandrium fundyense</italic> were examined in culture and ecosystem studies. In culture experiments, <italic>Alexandrium</italic> strains isolated from Northport Bay, New York, and the Bay of Fundy, Canada, grew significantly faster (16–190%; <italic>p</italic> < 0.05) when exposed to elevated levels of <inline-formula><alternatives><inline-graphic mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh3tpf356w" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><mml:math display="inline" altimg="urn:x-wiley::media:lno10012:lno10012-math-0001" overflow="scroll" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">P</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>CO</mml:mtext></mml:mrow></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math></alternatives></inline-formula> (∼ 90–190 Pa = 900–1900 μatm) compared to lower levels (∼ 40 Pa = 400 μatm). Exposure to higher levels of <inline-formula><alternatives><inline-graphic mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh3tpf35fr" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><mml:math display="inline" altimg="urn:x-wiley::media:lno10012:lno10012-math-0002" overflow="scroll" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">P</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>CO</mml:mtext></mml:mrow></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math></alternatives></inline-formula> also resulted in significant increases (71–81%) in total cellular toxicity (fg saxitoxin equivalents cell<sup>−1</sup>) in the Northport Bay strain, while no changes in toxicity were detected in the Bay of Fundy strain. The positive relationship between <inline-formula><alternatives><inline-graphic mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh3tpf35hv" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><mml:math display="inline" altimg="urn:x-wiley::media:lno10012:lno10012-math-0003" overflow="scroll" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">P</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>CO</mml:mtext></mml:mrow></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math></alternatives></inline-formula> enrichment and elevated growth was reproducible in natural populations from New York waters. <italic>Alexandrium</italic> densities were significantly and consistently enhanced when natural populations were incubated at 150 Pa <inline-formula><alternatives><inline-graphic mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh3tpf35b3" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><mml:math display="inline" altimg="urn:x-wiley::media:lno10012:lno10012-math-0004" overflow="scroll" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">P</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>CO</mml:mtext></mml:mrow></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math></alternatives></inline-formula> compared to ∼ 39 Pa. During natural <italic>Alexandrium</italic> blooms in Northport Bay, <inline-formula><alternatives><inline-graphic mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh3tpf35cn" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><mml:math display="inline" altimg="urn:x-wiley::media:lno10012:lno10012-math-0005" overflow="scroll" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">P</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>CO</mml:mtext></mml:mrow></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math></alternatives></inline-formula> concentrations increased over the course of a bloom to more than 170 Pa and were highest in regions with the greatest <italic>Alexandrium</italic> abundances, suggesting <italic>Alexandrium</italic> may further exacerbate acidification and/or be especially adapted to these acidified conditions. The co‐occurrence of <italic>Alexandrium</italic> blooms and elevated <inline-formula><alternatives><inline-graphic mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh3tpf34p3" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><mml:math display="inline" altimg="urn:x-wiley::media:lno10012:lno10012-math-0006" overflow="scroll" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">P</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>CO</mml:mtext></mml:mrow></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math></alternatives></inline-formula> represents a previously unrecognized, compounding environmental threat to coastal ecosystems. The ability of elevated <inline-formula><alternatives><inline-graphic mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh3tpf34nj" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><mml:math display="inline" altimg="urn:x-wiley::media:lno10012:lno10012-math-0007" overflow="scroll" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">P</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>CO</mml:mtext></mml:mrow></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow /><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math></alternatives></inline-formula> to enhance the growth and toxicity of <italic>Alexandrium</italic> indicates that acidification promoted by eutrophication or climate change can intensify these, and perhaps other, harmful algal blooms.</p> </abstract>