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Identification of Euglenoids That Produce Ichthyotoxin(S) (Euglenophyta)
Author(s) -
Triemer R. E.,
Zimba P. V.,
Rowan M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.0022-3646.2003.03906001_163.x
Subject(s) - biology , euglena , botany , catfish , toxin , fish kill , bass (fish) , cyanobacteria , tilapia , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , algal bloom , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , chloroplast , phytoplankton , fishery , biochemistry , genetics , nutrient , gene
Diatoms, dinoflagellates, pelagiophytes, prymnesiophytes, and cyanobacteria are the only divisions of microalgae known to produce toxins. We now report toxin production by freshwater members of the genus Euglena. Fish mortalities (sheepshead minnows, catfish, striped bass, and tilapia) have been observed following exposure in the field to Euglena blooms and in the laboratory when exposed to unialgal isolates of two species of Euglena ( E. sanguinea Ehrenberg and E. granulata (Klebs) Lemm.). Three toxic fractions have been isolated from unialgal isolates of both species, and include both water soluble and lipophilic compounds having ichthyotoxic activity. The toxins are stable at −80°C for at least 60 days and are heat stable to 30°C. Erratic swimming behavior of fish suggests a neurological toxin. This is the first report of fish kills by any freshwater algal taxa from both field and laboratory studies.