Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 18.3
Examples of HAB-Forming Algae and Their Effects on Food Safety (Faust
and Gulledge, 2002; Sellner et al., 2003).
Poisoning
Functional group
Species
Diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP)
Dinoflagellates
Prorocentrum
spp.
Dinophysis
spp.
Protoperidinium
spp.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP)
Dinoflagellate
Alexandrium
spp.
Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP)
Dinoflagellate
Gymnodinium
spp.
Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP)
Diatoms
Pseudo-nitzschia
spp.
Ciguatera fish poisoning
Dinoflagellate
Gambierdiscus
spp.
Harmful Algal Bloom is because of:
a) Acidification of Waters
It is possible that ocean acidification may cause changes in HAB
dynamics through changes in phytoplankton community composi-
tion, however, there are insufficient data to draw any conclusions
about the impacts that increasing CO
2
might have on the growth
and composition of HAB-causing marine phytoplankton
b) Impact of Sea-level Rise, Increased Precipitation and Flash Floods
on Harmful Algal Communities
Sea level rise, increased precipitation and flash floods are most
likely to affect harmful algal communities through increased nu-
trient release to coastal and marine waters. Two key nutrients re-
quired for phytoplankton growth, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus
(P), are found in fertilizers and animal and human waste; how-
ever silicon (Si), which is only required for diatom growth, is not
added to the environment through human activity. Increased con-
centrations of N and P without a corresponding increase in Si may
cause changes in phytoplankton community composition, favoring
dinoflagellates, which have no biological requirement for Si, at
the expense of diatoms (Smayda, 1990). Such a shift in the phyto-
plankton community towards dinoflagellate dominance may result
in increased numbers of HAB species in regions prone to increased
anthropogenic nutrients. Flash flooding and sudden storm events
may release 'pulses' of nutrients into coastal waters. As the sea
reclaims low-lying land, areas that are currently intensively farmed
