Cyanobacteria toxins in the Salton Sea
Author Information
Author(s): Carmichael Wayne W, Li RenHui
Primary Institution: Wright State University
Hypothesis
Microcystins contribute to the eared grebe mortalities on the Salton Sea and that a significant source of organism(s) producing microcystins is to be found in the picoplankton.
Conclusion
Microcystins produced by marine Synechococcus may be a common occurrence in marine environments, which has implications for other marine systems.
Supporting Evidence
- 85% of water samples contained low but detectable levels of microcystins.
- Microcystins were found in eared grebe livers at levels that may account for some of the acute mortalities.
- All cultured strains of Synechococcus produced microcystins.
- Microcystins were detected in the majority of liver and intestine samples from grebes.
Takeaway
The study found that a lot of water samples from the Salton Sea had a harmful toxin called microcystin, which might be making birds sick and dying.
Methodology
Water and sediment samples were collected for phytoplankton identification and cyanotoxin analyses using ELISA screening.
Limitations
The study did not include controlled exposure studies to grebes and did not investigate the possible routes by which microcystins enter grebe livers and intestines.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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