Researchers in the UK have shown how the distributions of two phytoplankton groups - known to produce natural toxins that can halt shellfish harvesting - have changed in the North East Atlantic over the last six decades.
Phytoplankton are single-celled microscopic algae that play an important role in the marine ecosystem, converting energy from sunlight into carbohydrates via photosynthesis and forming the base of the marine food web.
However, some phytoplankton can produce biotoxins that can accumulate in the flesh of shellfish via filter feeding, and higher toxin levels can pose a serious risk to human health if consumed, and also to marine mammals and sea birds. To combat this, all shellfish are tested for the presence of these toxins by Food Standards Agency, UK and Food Standards Scotland before being placed on the market to ensure human health is protected.
Pseudo-nitzschia and Dinophysis are common components of the phytoplankton community along Europe's Atlantic coast and the North Sea. A number of Pseudo-nitzschia species produce the toxins responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), while some Dinophysis species produce the toxins responsible for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP).
A new study, published in the journal Harmful Algae, has provided updated maps for the North East Atlantic showing how the abundance and distribution of these two groups have changed over the last six decades.
These changes are important as the toxins produced can act as a chronic environmental pressure for sea birds and marine mammals, but the increased knowledge can be used as a way of anticipating shifting risks for shellfisheries and aquaculture.
The researchers also wanted to explore whether changes observed within these types of phytoplankton are representative of overall plankton diversity.
The research was led by scientists from the University of Plymouth and the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government, in conjunction with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), the Marine Biological Association (MBA), and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).
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