Variation in toxin compositions of two harmful raphidophytes, Chattonella antiqua and Chattonella marina, at different salinities

Toxin compositions of the two species of raphidophytes, Chattonella antiqua (Hada) Ono and Chattonella marina (Subrahmanyan) Hara et Chihara, were investigated at different salinities under laboratory conditions. C. antiqua contained toxin components CaTx‐I, CaTx‐II, CaTx‐III, and CaTx‐IV, which corresponded to brevetoxin components PbTx‐1, PbTx‐2, PbTx‐3, and oxidized PbTx‐2. Similarly, C. marina included CmTx‐I, CmTx‐II, CmTx‐III, and CmTx‐IV corresponding to PbTx‐2, PbTx‐9, PbTx‐3, and oxidized PbTx‐2. Toxin yields in both species varied markedly with a change in salinity concentration. In C. antiqua CaTx‐I, CaTx‐II, and CaTx‐III peaked at 25 P.P.t. with yields of 0.99, 0.42, and 2.90 pg/cell, but the highest yield (2.35 pg/cell) of CaTx‐IV was attained at 30 P.P.t. The yields of all CaTx components decreased sharply at salinities exceeding 30 P.P.t. On the other hand, C. marina yielded higher proportions of CmTx‐I (0.55 pg/cell) and CmTx‐III (2.50 pg/cell) at 25 P.P.t. However, CmTx‐IV was present in its highest amount (1.65 pg/cell) at 30 P.P.t., as seen in C. antiqua. A small amount of CmTx‐II was also detected at 20 P.P.t.–35 P.P.t. Both species showed the highest ichthyotoxicities at 25 P.P.t., at which the maximum cell division rate was obtained. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 17: 113–118, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/tox.10039