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“Canary Islands (NE Atlantic) as a biodiversity ‘hotspot’ of Gambierdiscus : Implications for future trends of ciguatera in the area”

Rodríguez, Francisco ; Fraga, Santiago ; Ramilo, Isabel ; Rial, Pilar ; Figueroa, Rosa Isabel LU ; Riobó, Pilar and Bravo, Isabel (2017) In Harmful Algae 67. p.131-143
Abstract

In the present study the geographical distribution, abundance and composition of Gambierdiscus was described over a 600 km longitudinal scale in the Canary Islands. Samples for cell counts, isolation and identification of Gambierdiscus were obtained from five islands (El Hierro, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote). Average densities of Gambierdiscus spp. between 0 and 2200 cells g−1 blot dry weight of macrophyte were recorded. Morphological (light microscopy and SEM techniques) and molecular analyses (LSU and SSU rDNA sequencing of cultures and single cells from the field) of Gambierdiscus was performed. Five Gambierdiscus species (G. australes, G. caribaeus, G. carolinianus, G. excentricus and G. silvae),... (More)

In the present study the geographical distribution, abundance and composition of Gambierdiscus was described over a 600 km longitudinal scale in the Canary Islands. Samples for cell counts, isolation and identification of Gambierdiscus were obtained from five islands (El Hierro, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote). Average densities of Gambierdiscus spp. between 0 and 2200 cells g−1 blot dry weight of macrophyte were recorded. Morphological (light microscopy and SEM techniques) and molecular analyses (LSU and SSU rDNA sequencing of cultures and single cells from the field) of Gambierdiscus was performed. Five Gambierdiscus species (G. australes, G. caribaeus, G. carolinianus, G. excentricus and G. silvae), together with a new putative species (Gambierdiscus ribotype 3) were identified. These results suggest that some cases of CFP in the region could be associated with the accumulation of ciguatoxins in the marine food web acquired from local populations of Gambierdiscus. This unexpected high diversity of Gambierdiscus species in an area which a priori is not under risk of ciguatera, hints at an ancient settlement of Gambierdiscus populations, likely favored by warmer climate conditions in the Miocene Epoch (when oldest current Canary Islands were created), in contrast with cooler present ones. Currently, warming trends associated with climate change could contribute to extend favorable environmental conditions in the area for Gambierdiscus growth especially during winter months.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Benthic dinoflagellates, Canary Islands, Ciguatera, Gambierdiscus, LSUrRNA, SSUrRNA
in
Harmful Algae
volume
67
pages
13 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85023640265
  • wos:000407983400012
  • pmid:28755716
ISSN
1568-9883
DOI
10.1016/j.hal.2017.06.009
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
35b1defe-cf64-4049-b6af-230da52cf856
date added to LUP
2017-07-27 13:06:16
date last changed
2024-03-17 18:05:43
@article{35b1defe-cf64-4049-b6af-230da52cf856,
  abstract     = {{<p>In the present study the geographical distribution, abundance and composition of Gambierdiscus was described over a 600 km longitudinal scale in the Canary Islands. Samples for cell counts, isolation and identification of Gambierdiscus were obtained from five islands (El Hierro, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote). Average densities of Gambierdiscus spp. between 0 and 2200 cells g<sup>−1</sup> blot dry weight of macrophyte were recorded. Morphological (light microscopy and SEM techniques) and molecular analyses (LSU and SSU rDNA sequencing of cultures and single cells from the field) of Gambierdiscus was performed. Five Gambierdiscus species (G. australes, G. caribaeus, G. carolinianus, G. excentricus and G. silvae), together with a new putative species (Gambierdiscus ribotype 3) were identified. These results suggest that some cases of CFP in the region could be associated with the accumulation of ciguatoxins in the marine food web acquired from local populations of Gambierdiscus. This unexpected high diversity of Gambierdiscus species in an area which a priori is not under risk of ciguatera, hints at an ancient settlement of Gambierdiscus populations, likely favored by warmer climate conditions in the Miocene Epoch (when oldest current Canary Islands were created), in contrast with cooler present ones. Currently, warming trends associated with climate change could contribute to extend favorable environmental conditions in the area for Gambierdiscus growth especially during winter months.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rodríguez, Francisco and Fraga, Santiago and Ramilo, Isabel and Rial, Pilar and Figueroa, Rosa Isabel and Riobó, Pilar and Bravo, Isabel}},
  issn         = {{1568-9883}},
  keywords     = {{Benthic dinoflagellates; Canary Islands; Ciguatera; Gambierdiscus; LSUrRNA; SSUrRNA}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  pages        = {{131--143}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Harmful Algae}},
  title        = {{“Canary Islands (NE Atlantic) as a biodiversity ‘hotspot’ of Gambierdiscus : Implications for future trends of ciguatera in the area”}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2017.06.009}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.hal.2017.06.009}},
  volume       = {{67}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}