Differential influence of life cycle on growth and toxin production of three Pseudo-nitzschia species (Bacillariophyceae)

We used a multi‐strain approach to study the intra‐ and interspecific variability of the growth rates of three Pseudo‐nitzschia species – P. australis, P. fraudulenta, and P. pungens – and of their domoic acid (DA) production. We carried out mating and batch experiments to investigate the respective effects of strain age and cell size, and thus the influence of their life cycle on the physiology of these species. The cell size ‐ life cycle relationship was characteristic of each species. The influence of age and cell size on the intraspecific variability of growth rates suggests that these characteristics should be considered cautiously for the strains used in physiological studies on Pseudo‐nitzschia species. The results from all three species do not support the hypothesis of a decrease in DA production with time since isolation from natural populations. In P. australis, the cellular DA content was rather a function of cell size. More particularly, cells at the gametangia stage of their life cycle contained up to six times more DA than smaller or larger cells incapable of sexual reproduction. These findings reveal a link between P. australis life cycle and cell toxicity. This suggest that life cycle dynamics in Pseudo‐nitzschia natural populations may influence bloom toxicity.

Keyword(s)

cell size, domoic acid, growth, life cycle, Pseudo-nitzschia strains

Full Text

FilePagesSizeAccess
Author's final draft
44743 Ko
FigS1
195 Ko
FigS2
1104 Ko
FigS3
1209 Ko
FigS4
1143 Ko
FigS5
1144 Ko
Publisher's official version
14448 Ko
How to cite
Sauvey Aurore, Claquin Pascal, Le Roy Bertrand, Le Gac Mickael, Fauchot Juliette (2019). Differential influence of life cycle on growth and toxin production of three Pseudo-nitzschia species (Bacillariophyceae). Journal Of Phycology. 55 (5). 1126-1139. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.12898, https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00505/61679/

Copy this text