Heimann, Kirsten, Capper, Angela, and Sparrow, Leanne (2011) Ocean surface warming: impact on toxic benthic dinoflagellates causing ciguatera. In: UNSPECIFIED, (ed.) eLS. Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 1-8.

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Abstract

Ciguatera reef fish poisoning is a debilitating human illness in tropical and some subtropical regions. Toxic precursors produced by tropical benthic dinoflagellates are bio-converted to often more potent toxins and bioaccumulate via the food web in highly sought after table fish. Rising sea surface temperatures are predicted to induce phase shifts on coral reefs. These changes offer increased substrate availability for benthic, toxic dinoflagellates such as Gambierdiscus, Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum and Coolia spp. resulting in range expansions of the causative agents of ciguatera. Ocean currents critically shape the chemical and physical ocean – and coastal environments. Climate change affects wind patterns, which strengthens the East Australian Current forcing warm tropical waters further south. This in turn allows range expansions of ciguatera-associated dinoflagellates and presumably toxin vectors into nonendemic coastal regions changing the ciguatera-risk profile for humans and regional and commercial fisheries in affected coastal areas.

Item ID:	19578
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Reference)
ISBN:	978-0-470-01590-2
Keywords:	climate change; harmful microalgae; sea surface temperatures (SST); dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus; ciguatera and ciguatoxins (CTX); marine toxins; global warming, Southern Oscillation Index (SOI); East Australian Current (EAC)
Related URLs:	Publisher Publisher
Additional Information:	eLS was formerly known as the Encyclopedia of Life Sciences.
Date Deposited:	20 Apr 2012 06:13
FoR Codes:	07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0704 Fisheries Sciences > 070403 Fisheries Management @ 70% 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0501 Ecological Applications > 050101 Ecological Impacts of Climate Change @ 20% 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0501 Ecological Applications > 050103 Invasive Species Ecology @ 10%
SEO Codes:	83 ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 8302 Fisheries - Wild Caught > 830201 Fisheries Recreational @ 50% 83 ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 8302 Fisheries - Wild Caught > 830204 Wild Caught Fin Fish (excl. Tuna) @ 50%
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