Diversity, toxicity, and distribution of potentially toxic diatoms in Antarctic waters––With description of Pseudo-nitzschia meridionalis sp. nov. and P. glacialis sp. nov.
Permanent link
https://hdl.handle.net/10037/35431Date
2024-09-12Type
Journal articleTidsskriftartikkel
Peer reviewed
Author
Lundholm, Nina; Christensen, Anneliese L.; Olesen, Anna K.J.; Beszteri, Bánk; Eggers, Sarah Lena; Krock, Bernd; Altenburger, AndreasAbstract
During three research expeditions to the Southern Ocean, monoclonal strains of Pseudo-nitzschia were isolated and cultivated. Stored samples from a fourth expedition, the Brategg expedition, were used to complete the description of particularly P. turgidula. Through electron microscopy and molecular analysis, two novel species were identified—Pseudo-nitzschia meridionalis sp. nov. and Pseudo-nitzschia glacialis sp. nov.—alongside the previously described species P. subcurvata, P. turgiduloides, and P. turgidula. Toxin assays revealed no detectable levels of domoic acid in P. turgiduloides, P. turgidula, P. meridionalis sp. nov. and P. glacialis sp. nov. Conversely, P. subcurvata was reported in a related study to produce domoic acid and its isomer, isodomoic acid C.
These findings emphasize the need for comprehensive research on the phytoplankton of Antarctic waters, which is currently a largely uncharted domain. With the looming threat of climate change, understanding the dynamics of potentially harmful algal populations in this region is becoming increasingly critical.