The effect of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense on the fitness of the calanoid copepod Calanus finmarchicus

摘要: Abstract Inshore and offshore waters of the Gulf Maine (USA) have spring/summer harmful algal blooms (HABs) toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense , which is responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in humans. The calanoid copepod Calanus finmarchicus co-occurs with A. during seasonal blooms. At that time, C. population abundances are high, dominated by immature copepods preparing diapause, actively-reproducing adults. High survival has been reported exposed to but little known about possible sublethal effects. In this study, adult females were fed either a control diet non-toxic Rhodomonas spp. or one two diets containing low dose (LD) high (HD) levels (50 200 cells mL −1 respectively) total 7 days independent experiments. As expected, ingestion had no effect on grazing activity. However, significant reductions egg production viability observed experimental . After 7-day experiment, nauplius LD HD was reduced 35% 75% compared females. These results suggest may be an environmental challenge populations, potential negative recruitment.