Pseudo-nitzschia species distribution in estuaries of the Pacific Northwest based on Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA)

The cosmopolitan diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia comprises approximately thirty species, at least twelve of which are known to produce a neurotoxin called domoic acid (DA). DA is responsible for causing Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning which can result in seizures, memory loss, and even death in upper trophic level consumers. The presence of DA and harmful algal blooms (HABs) has been reported in the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest. Due to the similar morphologies of each Pseudo-nitzschia species, identification beyond genus is not possible using light microscopy; only electron microscopy or molecular methods can accurately identify to the species level. This study used a genetic fingerprinting method to determine species distribution in areas of Barkley Sound and Puget Sound in late March, early April 2010. Pseudo-nitzschia-specific primers were used for Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA) to amplify the polymorphic region of the ITS1. The goal of this research was to determine which species of Pseudo-nitzschia were present in Barkley Sound and Puget Sound and to compare the similarity of Pseudo-nitzschia communities spatially. P. delicatissima represented approximately 50% or more of the communities in both sounds. Four different species of toxin-producing Pseudo-nitzschia were identified, two in each sound. Two open ocean species (P. heimii and P. granii) made up more than 10% of the community composition in each sound. This research investigates the speculative movement and varying distribution of the toxin-producing diatom Pseudo-nitzschia in estuaries of the Pacific Northwest.

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