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Alexandrium Tamarense
''Alexandrium tamarense'' is a species of dinoflagellates known to produce saxitoxin, a neurotoxin which causes the human illness clinically known as paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Multiple species of phytoplankton are known to produce saxitoxin, including at least 10 other species from the genus ''Alexandrium''. Recent molecular work shows that this species belongs to the ''Alexandrium tamarense'' complex (Atama complex, including ''A. tamarense,'' ''Alexandrium fundyense ''Alexandrium fundyense'' is a species of dinoflagellates. It produces toxins that induce paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), and is a common cause of red tide. ''A. fundyense'' regularly forms massive blooms along the northeastern coasts of th ...,'' '' Alexandrium catenella'') and that none of the three original morphospecies designations forms monophyletic groups in the present SSU-based and previous LSU-based phylogenetic trees, i.e. these species designations are invalid. There is docosahexaenoic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dinoflagellate
The dinoflagellates (Greek δῖνος ''dinos'' "whirling" and Latin ''flagellum'' "whip, scourge") are a monophyletic group of single-celled eukaryotes constituting the phylum Dinoflagellata and are usually considered algae. Dinoflagellates are mostly marine plankton, but they also are common in freshwater habitats. Their populations vary with sea surface temperature, salinity, and depth. Many dinoflagellates are photosynthetic, but a large fraction of these are in fact mixotrophic, combining photosynthesis with ingestion of prey (phagotrophy and myzocytosis). In terms of number of species, dinoflagellates are one of the largest groups of marine eukaryotes, although substantially smaller than diatoms. Some species are endosymbionts of marine animals and play an important part in the biology of coral reefs. Other dinoflagellates are unpigmented predators on other protozoa, and a few forms are parasitic (for example, ''Oodinium'' and ''Pfiesteria''). Some dinoflagellates pro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saxitoxin
Saxitoxin (STX) is a potent neurotoxin and the best-known paralytic shellfish toxin (PST). Ingestion of saxitoxin by humans, usually by consumption of shellfish contaminated by toxic algal blooms, is responsible for the illness known as paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). The term saxitoxin originates from the genus name of the butter clam (''Saxidomus'') from which it was first isolated. But the term saxitoxin can also refer to the entire suite of more than 50 structurally related neurotoxins (known collectively as "saxitoxins") produced by protists, algae and cyanobacteria which includes saxitoxin itself (STX), neosaxitoxin (NSTX), gonyautoxins (GTX) and decarbamoylsaxitoxin (dcSTX). Saxitoxin has a large environmental and economic impact, as its presence in bivalve shellfish such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops frequently leads to bans on commercial and recreational shellfish harvesting in many temperate coastal waters around the world including the Northeastern and W ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is one of the four recognized syndromes of shellfish poisoning, which share some common features and are primarily associated with bivalve mollusks (such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops). These shellfish are filter feeders and accumulate neurotoxins, chiefly saxitoxin, produced by microscopic algae, such as dinoflagellates, diatoms, and cyanobacteria. Dinoflagellates of the genus ''Alexandrium'' are the most numerous and widespread saxitoxin producers and are responsible for PSP blooms in subarctic, temperate, and tropical locations. The majority of toxic blooms have been caused by the morphospecies '' Alexandrium catenella, Alexandrium tamarense'', '' Gonyaulax catenella'' and ''Alexandrium fundyense'', which together comprise the ''A. tamarense'' species complex. In Asia, PSP is mostly associated with the occurrence of the species ''Pyrodinium bahamense''. Some pufferfish, including the chamaeleon puffer, also contain saxitoxin, maki ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton () are the autotrophic (self-feeding) components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek words (), meaning 'plant', and (), meaning 'wanderer' or 'drifter'. Phytoplankton obtain their energy through photosynthesis, as do trees and other plants on land. This means phytoplankton must have light from the sun, so they live in the well-lit surface layers (euphotic zone) of oceans and lakes. In comparison with terrestrial plants, phytoplankton are distributed over a larger surface area, are exposed to less seasonal variation and have markedly faster turnover rates than trees (days versus decades). As a result, phytoplankton respond rapidly on a global scale to climate variations. Phytoplankton form the base of marine and freshwater food webs and are key players in the global carbon cycle. They account for about half of global photosynthetic activity and at least half of the oxygen production, despite ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alexandrium (dinoflagellate)
''Alexandrium'' is a genus of dinoflagellates. It contains some of the dinoflagellate species most harmful to humans, because it produces toxic harmful algal blooms (HAB) that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in humans. There are about 30 species of ''Alexandrium'' that form a clade, defined primarily on morphological characters in their thecal plates. Introduction The group was not well-defined in the past and thus, due to interest of its toxic behaviour, people have revised the group through formal tabulation and usage of molecular markers such as the toxic gene, stx4A, to better understand not just the relationship between each species; but more importantly, to tell something about the spread and barriers to the bloom. Even if, much is known about the life cycles related to the blooms, much is still unknown as to how each life stage is triggered and transitions to the next stage. Predation and parasitism have proven to be great barriers for population growth. Lea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alexandrium Fundyense
''Alexandrium fundyense'' is a species of dinoflagellates. It produces toxins that induce paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), and is a common cause of red tide. ''A. fundyense'' regularly forms massive blooms along the northeastern coasts of the United States and Canada, resulting in enormous economic losses and public health concerns. Enzyme electrophoretic data and RNA genetic analysis show ''Alexandrium fundyense'' and ''A. tamarense'' to be closely related, while mating compatibilities even suggest them to be varieties of a single heterothallic species. Recent molecular work shows that this species belongs to the ''Alexandrium tamarense'' complex (Atama complex, including ''A. tamarense'', ''Alexandrium fundyense, Alexandrium catenella'') and that none of the three original morphospecies designations forms monophyletic groups in the present SSUbased and previous LSU-based phylogenetic trees, i.e. these species designations are invalid. This currently needs further investiga ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alexandrium Catenella
''Alexandrium catenella'' is a species of dinoflagellates. It is among the group of ''Alexandrium'' species that produce toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, and is a cause of red tide. ‘’Alexandrium catenella’’ is observed in cold, coastal waters, generally at temperate latitudes. These organisms have been found in the west coast of North America, Japan, Australia, and parts of South Africa. ''Alexandrium catenella'' can occur in single cells (similar to ''A. fundyense''), but more often they are seen in short chains of 2, 4, or 8 cells. The organism is typically 20–25 µm in length and 25–32 µm in width. The cells are compressed both in the anterior and posterior ends of this specimen. ''Alexandrium'' has two flagella that enable it to swim. While one flagellum encircles the cell causing the cell the rotate and move forward, the other extends behind the cell and controls the direction. In some instances, these organisms can appear like small tr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
