Is Microtox® Toxicity Related with Potential Harmful Algae Proliferation in Mediterranean Salt Marshes?

Mediterranean salt marshes are ecosystems that are highly influenced by sea exchanges and freshwater inputs from runoffs. In these ecosystems, toxic and no toxic algae blooms, without a temporal or spatial pattern, reach often high and unpredictable biomasses of phytoplankton. The Microtox® test have been described as a successful, quick method for detecting toxicity of different phytoplankton taxa. We made a first approach to determine the efficiency of Microtox® for detecting toxic HAB in Mediterranean salt marshes. It could be concluded that there are toxic substances in the particulate matter of several lagoons in the Empordà salt marshes that the Microtox® test was able to detect. This Microtox® toxicity coincided with periods when potentially harmful cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates and haptophytes have a high biomass. The results suggest that potentially harmful phytoplankton cannot be ruled out as a source Microtox® toxicity and also as a source of other organism kills or sub-acute effects in Mediterranean salt marshes.

LÓPEZ-FLORES Rocio;  BOIX Dani;  BADOSA Anna;  BRUCET Sandra;  D. QUINTANA Xavier; 

2011-01-20

ASOC ESPAN LIMNOL-MISLATA

JRC60624

0213-8409,