桂山岛海域甲藻孢囊的分布与浮游植物休眠体萌发研究

为了了解珠江口桂山岛海域甲藻孢囊的分布及浮游植物休眠体的萌发状况,以揭示赤潮发生潜势,于2009年1月采集了珠江口桂山岛海域表层沉积物样品,对沉积物中甲藻孢囊的种类和数量进行分析,并对浮游植物休眠体进行了萌发试验。结果表明,桂山岛海域甲藻孢囊有21种,原多甲藻类孢囊在种类数上占优势。甲藻孢囊密度较低,为110~315个/g,平均为202个/g,养殖区密度高于非养殖区。异养型甲藻孢囊百分比含量较高,表明了该海域较高的富营养化程度。活体孢囊密度百分比达61.8%,说明表层沉积物中存在大量未萌发的活性孢囊,为赤潮暴发埋下了隐患。萌发的浮游植物种类数较少,为19属22种。20 d和40 d萌发的浮游植物细胞平均密度分别为490个/g和264个/g。萌发的甲藻优势种为Biecheleriopsis adriatica,其次为锥状斯氏藻(Scrippsiella trochoidea);萌发的硅藻主要以中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)、旋链角毛藻(Chaetoceros curvistus)和舟形藻(Navicula sp.)占优势。桂山岛海域有毒有害甲藻孢囊的广泛分布以及潜在赤潮种类的大量萌发,表明该海域有较高的赤潮发生风险。     

福建福宁湾表层沉积物中甲藻孢囊分布与多样性研究

孢囊是甲藻生活史中特殊的休眠阶段,被认为是赤潮发生的种源。于2018年4月采集了福建福宁湾海域表层沉积物,对沉积物中甲藻孢囊的分布规律进行了研究,重点揭示有毒有害甲藻孢囊的分布;同时测定了沉积物中生源要素含量,以揭示孢囊分布与生源要素的关系。共鉴定甲藻孢囊25种,其中别什藻(Biecheleria tirezensis)孢囊占据优势。孢囊的种类多样性指数(H'')偏低,为2.06~2.34;均匀度指数(J)为0.71~0.81。孢囊密度介于178.6~386.3 cysts/g (以干重计,下同),平均为286.0cysts/g。孢囊密度高值区位于水深较深、沉积物颗粒较细的长表岛外海域,而低值区则位于长表岛至海尾角的近岸海域。值得注意的是,研究分析鉴定出9种有毒有害甲藻的孢囊,包括麻痹性贝类毒素(paralytic shellfish poisoning,PSP)原因种奥氏亚历山大藻(Alexandrium ostenfeldii)和链状/塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium catenella/tamarense)孢囊复合体、goniodomine A原因种平野亚历山大藻(Alexandrium hiranoi)、虾夷扇贝毒素(yessotoxin,YTX)原因种具刺膝沟藻(Gonyaulax spinifera)和网状原角藻(Protoceratium reticulatum)、产生鱼毒素的哈曼褐多沟藻(Pheopolykrikos hartmannii)以及赤潮藻类Barrufeta bravensis、锥状斯氏藻(Scrippsiella acuminata)和垂裂莱万藻(Levanderina fissa),其中Barrufeta bravensis、Gonyaulax spinifera和Scrippsiella acuminata的孢囊分布广泛且密度较高,需引起关注。     

大亚湾大鹏澳海域表层沉积物中浮游植物休眠体集群的季节变化

于2007年4月至2008年3月对大亚湾大鹏澳海域表层沉积物中浮游植物休眠体进行了每月1次的周年调查.本调查分析鉴定出浮游植物休眠体79种,包括甲藻孢囊50种,硅藻休眠体26种.浮游植物休眠体丰度没有明显的季节变化规律,变化范围为217～6 764 cells/cm3,平均为1 376 cells/cm3;鱼类养殖区休眠体丰度较高,平均丰度为1 999 cells/cm3.浮游植物休眠体在数量上以硅藻为主,甲藻次之,而在鱼类养殖区也出现了较高的蓝藻休眠体.硅藻休眠体的平均丰度为783 cells/cm3,百分比含量为56.9%,从而反映了该海域硅藻型浮游植物群落结构.甲藻孢囊丰度的变化范围在79～1 237 cells/cm3,位于湾口对照区丰度较高,年平均为733 cells/cm3,而鱼类养殖区和贝类养殖区平均值分别为502、388 cells/cm3.异养型甲藻孢囊的种类和数量均比较丰富,其百分比含量为26.7%～82.4%.研究结果显示,在富营养化程度较高的养殖区海域,硅藻休眠体和异养型甲藻孢囊百分率均较高,而鱼类养殖区还出现了较高蓝藻孢子丰度.本次调查中还出现了易碎藻和艉杆藻等在本海域浮游植物调查中未记录种类的孢囊,有毒有害赤潮生物的休眠体如亚历山大藻、链状裸甲藻、旋沟藻、巴哈马梨甲藻孢囊等也在此次调查中频繁出现,说明大亚湾海域存在较大的有毒有害赤潮发生的风险.     

Winter-spring phytoplankton blooms in Dabob Bay, Washington

Scientific investigations in Dabob Bay, Washington State, USA, have been extensive since the early 1960s, but phytoplankton blooms have been studied mostly with regard to chlorophyll concentrations and little is known about the phytoplankton species themselves. Here we provide information on the species present, their abundances during blooms, their contribution to organic carbon concentrations and the ability of some phytoplankton species to produce toxic aldehydes that may impact metazoan grazers.Multiple blooms of phytoplankton, dominated by diatoms, occurred in the late winter-early spring period, with depth-integrated chlorophyll levels ranging from <20 to 230 mg m⁻² and peaks in February and April. The major bloom species included Skeletonema costatum, Thalassiosira spp. and Chaetoceros spp; Phaeocystis cf. pouchetii occurred in 2002 and 2004. Other taxa or groups of organisms that were sometimes abundant included unidentified small flagellates <10 μm in size and unidentified heterotrophic dinoflagellates. Large diatoms usually comprised most of the cell carbon, but a large, heterotrophic dinoflagellate, identified only as Gyrodinium “tear” because of its shape, was a major contributor to the microplankton carbon when present even in small numbers. Five Thalassiosira species and S. costatum were found to produce polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUA) that are known to affect copepod reproduction and hatching success. Our findings are similar to the few previous studies in the last four decades that included phytoplankton species and suggest long-term similarities and relative stability in the phytoplankton species present and their timing in Dabob Bay.     

大亚湾澳头海域硅藻、甲藻的数量变动及其与环境因子的关系

于1997年7月-1998年6月采集大亚湾澳头海域水样,根据《海洋监测规范》分析调查方法,研究了硅藻和甲藻的数量变动及其与环境因子之间的关系,共鉴定出浮游植物198种,其中硅藻98种,甲藻83种。结果表明,大亚湾浮游植物细胞密度较高,年平均细胞密度为424．7cells／ml,最高细胞密度为6689．8cells／ml,硅藻为浮游植物的主要类群。调查期间共发生藻类水华7次,硅藻可在全年各季节发生水华,而甲藻水华仅在春季发生。硅藻水华的消退与N的大量消耗有关,而甲藻水华对P消耗较大。结果表明,大亚湾合适的温度、盐度、气象条件、丰富的硅酸盐含量及N、P等营养盐的及时补充是大亚湾浮游植物数量高和水华频繁发生的主要原因,同时风、流等物理因素对藻类的聚积作用对水华的发生也有一定的促进作用。     

Monitoring of harmful algal blooms along the Norwegian Coast using bio-optical methods

A Norwegian monitoring system for harmful algal blooms, consisting of an Observer Network, the State Food Hygiene Control Agency, the Oceanographic Company of Norway, the Institute of Marine Research and the Directorate for Fisheries, is reviewed. Potentially harmful algae on the Norwegian coast are found primarily in four classes of phytoplankton, dinoflagellates, prymnesiophytes, diatoms and raphidophytes. The system consists of buoys designed for real-time, in situ monitoring and forecasting, and is used principally to provide an early warning to the aquaculture industry. The system allows detection of potentially toxic species, through a combination of physical, chemical, biological and bio-optical data. New datasets using bio-optical techniques on glass-fibre filters are also described, providing information on the composition and health of phytoplankton populations.     

孢囊及其与赤潮爆发关系的研究进展

某些藻类(特别是甲藻),在不适宜生长的恶劣环境条件下能形成休眠孢囊。孢囊下沉到海底,以渡过不良的生存条件。一旦环境条件适宜,孢囊就大量萌发形成浮游细胞和优势群体,从而诱导赤潮的形成。简述了当前国际上对孢囊研究的最新进展,从孢囊和营养细胞相互转化的角度探索了孢囊与赤潮形成的关系,以及分子生物学技术在赤潮生物及其孢囊的定性、定量及赤潮发生监测中的应用。     

热带西太平洋Y3和M2海山区网采浮游植物群落结构特征

研究了热带西太平洋雅浦Y3海山冬季和马里亚纳M2海山春季网采浮游植物群落结构,对调查区浮游植物的物种组成、优势种类、细胞丰度以及多样性指数进行了分析。结果表明,两个海山区共鉴定浮游植物4门50属219种,其中硅藻门30属106种,甲藻门17属112种,蓝藻门1属2种,金藻门2属3种。两个航次研究区浮游植物优势种均以链状硅藻如根管藻(Rhizosolenia)、半管藻(Hemiaulus)和角毛藻(Chaetoceros)等属的种类为主,此外太阳漂流藻(Planktoniella sol)、铁氏束毛藻(Trichodesmium thiebautii)以及部分角藻(Ceratium)物种优势度也比较明显。Y3海山区浮游植物细胞丰度介于1.60～16.61 cells/L,平均值为5.02 cells/L; M2海山区浮游植物细胞丰度介于1.36～10.20 cells/L,平均值为4.12cells/L。两个海山区浮游植物细胞丰度的分布趋势均受硅藻影响较大,甲藻细胞丰度相对较低。在属的水平上,角毛藻、根管藻、角藻和半管藻等属的细胞丰度对两个海山区浮游植物总细胞丰度的贡献较大。多样性指数方面, Y3海山区浮游植物群落香农-威纳指数H′(shannon-wiener index)介于3.95～4.69,平均值为4.30; M2海山区浮游植物群落香农-威纳指数介于3.23～4.46,平均值为3.83。两个海山区浮游植物群落多样性指数均处于较高水平,但站位间的变化不明显。目前,关于热带西太平洋海山区浮游植物群落结构的研究还非常缺乏,亟需后续研究的补充。     

印度尼西亚北部苏拉维斯蓝碧海峡2012-2015年东南季风期间浮游植物的变化

2013年4月,2014年5月,2012年6月和2015年10月在印度尼西亚北部苏拉维斯蓝碧海峡（Lembeh Strait）进行了4个航次的海洋生态调查,研究了蓝碧海峡的浮游植物种类组成,以及浮游植物群落结构的季节变化及其驱动因子。四个航次的调查中记录了5类浮游植物和416个种（类）。调查区浮游植物密度平均为2348cells/L,硅藻和甲藻种类最多。蓝藻种类最少,但丰度很高。季风转换期的4月份和10月份浮游植物丰度总量较低,东南季风期间5月份和6月份的浮游植物丰度较高。除了束毛藻（Trichodesmium）之外,常见种是浮游硅藻。浮游植物的丰度和多样性的季节性变化明显。海链藻（Thalassionema）、拟菱形藻（Pseudo-nitzschia）和蓝藻类的束毛藻对群落的不相似性贡献最大。由于蓝碧海峡南部营养盐浓度较高,南部水域的硅藻和甲藻密度稍高于海峡北部。虽然,南北两个水体中蓝藻的分布趋于均匀,但蓝碧海峡南部也有较高密度。与雅加达湾以及中国的一些海湾相比,蓝碧海峡的浮游植物丰度相当低。分析表明,SE季风期间上升流营养盐是左右浮游植物丰度月变化的重要因素。蓝碧海峡浮游生态系原始,且接近天然本底,人类活动背景噪声低,能够清晰地响应大环境的变化,是研究浮游生态系统的理想区域。     

烟台港和邻近锚地及其入境船舶压舱水中的浮游植物

本文根据2003年5月到2004年4月间烟台港和邻近锚地水域及其船舶压舱水中的浮游植物调查资料,对浮游植物的群落结构和压舱水对其影响进行了初步研究。结果表明,烟台港和临近锚地的浮游植物群落主要由温带沿岸性物种组成,以硅藻为主,还有少量甲藻和金藻;对比船舶压舱水中浮游植物群落发现:压舱水中浮游植物群落和本地群落的结构有很大差异,有害物种在压舱水中出现的频率较高。     

Distribution and germination of viable diatom resting stage cells in sediments of the East China Sea

The abundance and temporal patterns of viable diatom resting stage cells in sediments of the East China Sea in 2006 have been investigated. The abundance of viable resting stages was enumerated with the most probable number (MPN) technique. Overall, 25 diatom species (including varieties) belonging to 16 genera were detected. Viable resting stage cells were common, on the order of 10³ to 10⁶ cells/g dry mass. The abundant taxa included Skeletonema marina, S. dohrnii, Chaetoceros curvisetus and Thalassiosira spp., with Skeletonema accounting for 83.3% of the cell. The effects of temperature (10, 15, 20, 25℃), salinity (20, 25, 30, 35 psu) and light intensity (0, 300, 4 000, 8 000 lux) on the germination of resting stages in sediment samples were also determined. The results showed that light intensity had a significant positive effect on the germination of diatom resting stage cells (p <0.01) and that diatoms could not germinate in darkness. Temperature and salinity had no noticeable effects on the germination. The present study suggests that there are abundant diatom resting cells in sediments of the East China Sea, which could serve as a "seed bank" in the phytoplankton population succession and contribute to the initiation of algal blooms.     

珠江口及其邻近海域赤潮物种的生物多样性研究进展

珠江口是中国长江以南最大的河口,毗邻港珠澳地区,海域内营养盐含量丰富,浮游植物物种多样性高。伴随着珠江沿岸地区经济的飞速发展,珠江口海域富营养化问题日趋严重,导致赤潮灾害频发。许多研究学者已经对珠江口海域浮游植物,特别是赤潮物种进行了全面的调查研究。为了系统解读珠江口海域赤潮物种的组成和相对丰度的变化,本文利用公开发表的数据,对1985—2014年间珠江口海域的22个航次调查结果进行了比较分析。这些航次调查共鉴定和报道了428种浮游植物物种,包括硅藻270种、甲藻130种、绿藻门9种、蓝藻8种、定鞭藻5种、金藻4种、着色鞭毛藻1种和裸藻1种。这些浮游植物大多数还没有分子分析数据,只有不到三分之一（28.0%）物种的全长18S rDNA全长序列得到解析,表明分子标记的数据库还需完善。根据文献报道,这些浮游植物中有54种赤潮物种,包括中肋骨条藻、双胞旋沟藻、夜光藻、球形棕囊藻、米氏凯伦藻、洛氏角毛藻和铁氏束毛藻等物种。本综述对了解珠江口及其附近海域的有害藻华物种,以及解读珠江口及其附近海域宏基因组学及宏条形码分析结果提供了参考,可以促进比较研究不同海域浮游植物和赤潮物种的生物多样性。     

Pyrosequencing reveals specific associations of bacterial clades Roseobacter and Flavobacterium with the harmful dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides growing in culture

Harmful algal blooms of the dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides are of worldwide environmental concern. Previous field studies have demonstrated the association of such algal blooms with free‐living bacteria (FLB) and particle‐associated bacteria (PAB). In the present study, we report evidence for bacterial association with C. polykrikoides in laboratory culture. Sampling was performed at different growth stages (lag, exponential and stationary) and pyrosequencing was used to identify taxa. As a result, the community structures of FLB and PAB were elucidated and significant differences between FLB and PAB were identified by hierarchical cluster analysis and the similarity profiles test (p = .05). The relative abundances of bacterial operational taxonomic units distinctly changed in response to the different phases of C. polykrikoides growth. The Roseobacter genus Marivita and the Flavobacterium genus Winogradskyella were dominant in the FLB and PAB associated with C. polykrikoides, respectively. The Roseobacter clade, which has also exhibited associations with C. polykrikoides blooms in field samples, may influence host cell growth through the provision of vitamins.     

中国海洋浮游植物和赤潮物种的生物多样性研究进展(三):南海

中国南海是世界上最大的边缘海之一,位于印太交汇区的北端。独特的地理环境和气候条件使其生态环境极其复杂,使得南海海域的赤潮具有特殊性和典型性。近20年来,南海赤潮现象呈攀升态势,对水产养殖业、滨海旅游业、海洋生态系统及人类健康都有着严重的危害。为了系统了解南海海域浮游植物,尤其是赤潮物种的种类组成、相对丰度及年际变化,本文对近30年间(1987—2018)南海海域涉及浮游植物调研的44个航次数据进行了统计和比较分析,共记录到500种浮游植物、65个鉴定到属的未定种和1个未定类的三深碎裂藻。其中,硅藻(289种和37个未定种)和甲藻(186种和21个未定种)占绝大多数,包括赤潮物种149种。其中大部分浮游植物尚未得到系统的分子鉴定。比较发现不同航次报道的物种数目相差较大,种类相似度不高,硅藻和甲藻的相对优势地位无明显演替现象。南海海域最常见的赤潮物种以硅藻为主,包括菱形海线藻、中肋骨条藻、洛氏角毛藻、尖刺拟菱形藻、柔弱拟菱形藻、球形棕囊藻、夜光藻和锥状斯氏藻。本文将为比较研究不同海域赤潮物种的生物多样性,解读宏基因组学及宏条形码分析结果提供参考。     

2001/2002年夏季南极普里兹湾及其邻近海域的浮游植物

报道了 2 0 0 1 /2 0 0 2年夏季南极普里兹湾邻近海域 3 7个大面测站浮游植物的调查结果。经初步鉴定共有浮游植物 3门 3 7属 86种 ,其中硅藻在种类和细胞丰度上占绝对优势 ,其次为甲藻。主要优势种为克格伦拟脆杆藻 (Fragilariopsiskerguelensis)、细条伪菱形藻 (Pseu do nitzschialineola)、短拟脆杆藻 (Fragilariopsiscurta)和赖氏束盒藻 (Trichotoxonreinboldii)等南极特有种类和常见种类。调查区浮游植物分为两个群集 ,分布在 6 7°S以南的普里兹湾内的群集主要以克格伦拟脆杆藻、短拟脆杆藻、胡克星脐藻 (Asteromphalushookeri)和南极弯角藻 (Eu campiaantarctica)等南极特有种类和常见种类为主 ;分布在 6 7°S以北的大洋海域的群集主要以细条伪菱形藻、赖氏束盒藻、拟膨胀伪菱形藻 (Pseudo nitzschiaturgiduloides)和羽状环毛藻(Corethronpennatum)等南极常见种为主。调查区浮游植物的平均细胞丰度为 (8796± 2 92 85 )ind/L ,细胞多分布于海水的表层 ,密集区分布在 6 7°S以南的普里兹湾内 ,浮游植物的细胞丰度同硝酸盐的浓度密切相关。调查区浮游植物的多样性程度是低的。     

改性粘土絮凝后残留的太平洋亚历山大藻(Alexandrium pacificum)毒素变化研究

改性粘土法是一种高效、环保的有害藻华应急处置技术,可通过絮凝作用有效去除水体中藻华生物。但利用改性粘土絮凝产毒藻后,水体中胞内外藻毒素的变化情况目前尚不清楚。文章考察了I型改性粘土(MCI)絮凝典型产毒甲藻——太平洋亚历山大藻(Alexandriumpacificum)后,水体中残留藻细胞内和胞外麻痹性贝类毒素(paralytic shellfish toxins, PSTs)含量、组分的变化情况。实验结果表明, MC I对密度为6.11×10~3 cells/mL的A. pacificum 3小时去除率达62%,水体中残留藻细胞单细胞毒素含量和PSTs组分与对照组无显著差异,但水体中总PSTs含量大大降低,其中由絮凝沉降导致的胞内PSTs被去除量占水体中PSTs总减少量的90%以上。另外,针对MC I对胞外PSTs吸附效果的研究发现,低于0.5 g/L的MC I对胞外PSTs无明显吸附效果,而在利用0.2 g/L MC I絮凝去除大部分亚历山大藻后,水体中胞外PSTs含量无明显变化。由此可以推测该用量下的MC I未造成大量藻细胞破裂向水体中释放毒素。该研究结果将为改性粘土治理有毒甲藻藻华的现场应用提供科学依据。     

鸭绿江口浮游植物群落特征及与环境因子的关系

于2009年3月对鸭绿江河口进行了10个站的浮游植物生态调查,分析了该海域浮游植物的种类组成、优势种类、群落结构以及水平分布等特征参数.本次调查共鉴定浮游植物48种,其中硅藻种类最多,达41种,甲藻其次,为6种,金藻1种.浮游植物可划分为广温类群、暖水类群和暖温类群3个生态类群,以广温类群为主.浮游植物细胞数量平均4.67×108个/m3,细胞数量自河口向外海逐渐降低.其中,中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)占据绝对优势.浮游植物群落优势种单一且优势度较大,群落结构相对简单.相关性分析表明温度和盐度是浮游植物细胞数量的主要限制性因子.浮游植物数量受鸭绿江径流的影响较大.     

Trophic cascades and future harmful algal blooms within ice-free Arctic Seas north of Bering Strait: A simulation analysis

Within larger ice-free regions of the western Arctic Seas, subject to ongoing trophic cascades induced by past overfishing, as well as to possible future eutrophication of the drainage basins of the Yukon and Mackenzie Rivers, prior very toxic harmful algal blooms (HABs) – first associated with ∼100 human deaths near Sitka, Alaska in 1799 – may soon expand. Blooms of calcareous coccolithophores in the Bering Sea during 1997–1998 were non-toxic harbingers of the subsequent increments of other non-siliceous phytoplankton. But, now saxitoxic dinoflagellates, e.g. Alexandrium tamarense, were instead found by us within the adjacent downstream Chukchi Sea during SBI cruises of 2002 and 2003. A previous complex, coupled biophysical model had been validated earlier by ship-board observations from the Chukchi/Beaufort Seas during the summer of 2002. With inclusion of phosphorus as another chemical state variable to modulate additional competition by recently observed nitrogen-fixers, we now explore here the possible consequences of altered composition of dominant phytoplankton functional groups [diatoms, microflagellates, prymnesiophyte Phaeocystis colonies, coccolithophores, diazotrophs, and dinoflagellates] in relation to increases of the toxic A. tamarense, responding to relaxation of grazing pressure by herbivores north of Bering Strait as part of a continuing trophic cascade. Model formulation was guided by validation observations obtained during 2002–2004 from: cruises of the SBI, CHINARE, and CASES programs; moored arrays in Bering Strait; other RUSALCA cruises around Wrangel Island; and SBI helicopter surveys of the shelf-break regions of the Arctic basin. Our year-long model scenarios during 2002–2003 indicate that post bloom silica-limitation of diatoms, after smaller simulated spring grazing losses, led to subsequent competitive advantages in summer for the coccolithophores, dinoflagellates, and diazotrophs. Immediate top-down control is exerted by imposed grazing pressures of the model’s herbivores and bottom-up control is also effected by light-, nitrate-, ammonium-, silicate-, and phosphate-modulated competition among the six functional groups of the simulated phytoplankton community. Similar to the history of the southern North Sea adjacent to the Rhine River, possible farming of northwestern Alaska and Canada, in conjunction with other human activities of ice retreat and overfishing, may lead to future exacerbations of poisonous phytoplankton. These potential killers include both toxic dinoflagellate and diazotroph HABs, deadly to terrestrial and marine mammals, as well as those of prymnesiophytes, some of which have already foamed beaches, while others have killed fishes of European waters.     

Harmful algal blooms of the southern Benguela Current: a review and appraisal of monitoring from 1989 to 1997

The Benguela upwelling system is subjected to blooms of harmful and toxic algae, the incidence and consequences of which are documented here. Red tides are common and usually attributed to members of the Dinophyceae, most of which are non-toxic. The incidence of these blooms varies spatially, with most blooms confined to the area west of Cape Agulhas. Cape Point forms the natural divide for species that dominate blooms of the west coast of South Africa as opposed to those that dominate the South Coast. Blooms occur most commonly from January to May, during the latter half of the upwelling season. Each red tide is associated with synoptic weather patterns, which dictate the onshore and offshore movement of dinoflagellate-dominated frontal blooms. There is also interannual variation, thought to be related to weather pattern changes. The harmful effects of high-biomass, non-toxic blooms include die-offs resulting from anoxia or hypoxia. Other effects of high biomass blooms include those that may cause mechanical or physical damage or those that may alter the foodweb. Recently, a bloom of the very small pelagophyte, Aureococcus anophagefferens, referred to as brown tide, in Saldanha Bay and Langebaan Lagoon resulted in growth arrest in both oysters and mussels. Toxic species cause mass mortalities of fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds and other animals. Human illness is caused by contaminated seafood when toxic phytoplankton are filtered from the water by shellfish that accumulate toxins to levels that are potentially lethal to humans and other consumers. Of these shellfish poisoning syndromes, Paralytic (PSP) and Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) are common in the Benguela. Confirmed cases of PSP have been attributed to the dinoflagellate Alexandrium Catenella. Although shellfish are usually only marginally affected, in extreme cases of poisoning, mussel mortalities have been observed, and in most instances these have been attributed to blooms of A. Catenella. Sardine Sardinops sagax mortalities in St Helena Bay have also been attributed to the ingestion of this PSP-producing dinoflagellate. Monitoring has revealed the presence of Dinophysis acuminata, D. fortii, D. hastata, D. tripos and D. rotundata, all of which have been reported to cause DSP. The dinoflagellate Gymnodiniun cf. mikimotoi, has been implicated in a type of Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning and human skin and respiratory irritations have been attributed to aerosol toxins produced by this species.