Specimen of Gambierdiscus seen through a microscope. (Photo: IEO)
Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the Canary Islands with highest toxic microalgae concentration
SPAIN
Saturday, July 22, 2017, 02:20 (GMT + 9)
A new paper published by scientists from the Oceanographic Centre of Vigo of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) reveals that Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the islands of the Canarian archipelago where there is the highest concentration of the microalgae producing the toxin that causes ciguatera.
Researchers who participated in a study on the biodiversity and distribution of ciguatoxin-producing microalgae on the Canary Islands have identified five different species of these dinoflagellates of the genus Gambierdiscus, capable of producing toxins that, once transmitted to some fish, cause ciguatera syndrome. This disease is common in some tropical areas such as the Caribbean and Polynesia, and is usually transmitted after consuming some carnivorous fish such as barracuda or medregal.
The study, published in the prestigious journal Harmful Algae, collects results from the CICAN project and shows that the most eastern islands have the highest concentrations of toxic microalgae.
"These islands have a more extensive platform than the western ones and that could affect the distribution of microalgae," explains Francisco Rodriguez, the first author of the article.
Due to the great diversity of species of the genus Gambierdiscus found on the Canary Islands, scientists consider it more likely that these species have not been introduced recently on the islands, as some authors claim, but they are part of a relict flora of the past when the climate on the Canaries was similar to that of the Caribbean.
"In principle, and based on the sea temperature, the Canary Islands would not enter the area exposed to ciguatera, which is limited to tropical seas," explain the scientists. "In this way, and although the current cases of ciguatera can not be attributed to climate change, it is to be expected that with the increase of the temperatures of the planet the incidence of these microalgae on the Canary Islands will be greater in the future," they add.
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