Fig. 3. Vertical distribution of A) temperature (blue line), salinity (red line) and chlorophyll a (green line); B) Pseudo-nitzschia spp; C) A. catenella;
D) D. acuminata; E) P. reticulatum at a sampling station close to the head of Quitralco Fjord on February 22, 2022
reticulatum (18.3 x 103 cells L-1) were
detected in the same surface layer (Figs.
3D, E).
The bloom caused six human intoxications including two fatal cases and
serious ecosystem loss. Fish mortalities
(juvenile hake) were observed close to
the head of this fjord. According to official reports from the Chilean Health
Ministry Monitoring Programme record
levels of PSP toxins (~14 x 103 μg STX eq.
100 g-1) were found in clams (Ameghinomya antiqua) from Quitralco Fjord at
the time of this event. The magnitude of
these toxicity levels is similar to that recorded during the summer 2009 bloom
of A. catenella [3]. Nevertheless, unlike
the 2022 event the 2009 episode was
caused by a monospecific bloom of A.
catenella [5]. Although the Patagonian
fjord and channel system have a high recurrence of HABs, multispecific blooms
of toxic species are rare because each
species exploit a different environmental niche. Thus, while optimal growth of
A. catenella is observed in high salinities
(~35) [6], D. acuminata and P. reticulatum occur in areas with high thermohaline stratification [7]. Different HAB
species, even if belonging to the same
genus, may exhibit distinct responses to
changing environmental conditions [8].
This multispecific bloom gives a unique
HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 70 / 2022
opportunity to determine the realized
niche of these four toxic species and
identify the optimal environmental conditions that they exploited during this
event. Pseudo-nitzschia spp. showed
a broader realized niche with greater
tolerance to environmental conditions,
in contrast to A. catenella that showed
a smaller niche, being mainly restricted
to the surface layer (0-4 m). Dinophysis
acuminata and P. reticulatum showed a
similar niche.
Considering the synoptic climate in
the Chilean Patagonia (declining precipitation; 5-7% per decade and global
temperature increase), these intense
HAB events may become more recurrent in the coming years. Finally, the
occurrence of this type of toxic phytoplankton cocktail may have synergistic
effects and increase the risks for public
health (human intoxications) as well as
social and ecosystem impacts (invertebrate and vertebrate mortalities) and
substantial economic losses.
Acknowledgements
References
1. Díaz PA et al. 2022. Mar Drugs 20: 122
2. Guzmán L et al 2002. In: Floraciones Algales Nocivas en el Cono Sur Americano
(IEO, Madrid), pp 235-255
3. Díaz PA et al 2019. Perspect Phycol 6(12): 39-50
4. Álvarez G et a. 2020. Harmful Algae
News 64: 6-7
5. Díaz PA et al 2014. Harmful Algae 40:
9-22
6. Aguilera-Belmonte A et al 2013. Harmful
Algae 23: 55-59
7. Alves de Souza C et al 2019. Toxins 11(1):
19
8. Escalera L et al 2006. Afr J Mar Sci 28(2):
283-288
Authors
Patricio A. Díaz, Iván Pérez-Santos, Camila
Schwerter, Sara Arenas, Pilar Navarro, Guido
Mancilla-Gutiérrez, Centro i~mar, Universidad de Los Lagos, Casilla 557, Puerto Montt,
Chile
Facundo Barrera, Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2, Facultad de Ciencias
Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de
Concepción, Concepción, Chile
Email corresponding author:
patricio.diaz@ulagos.cl
We thank Cesar Salgado for technical
assistance during the cruises on board
RV Dr. Jurgen Winter. This study was
funded by the Patagonia Norte IFOP
project.
9
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