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Mortality of sea lions along the central California coast linked to a toxic diatom bloom

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher A. Scholin

    (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)

  • Frances Gulland

    (The Marine Mammal Center)

  • Gregory J. Doucette

    (Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/National Ocean Service)

  • Scott Benson

    (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories)

  • Mark Busman

    (Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/National Ocean Service)

  • Francisco P. Chavez

    (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)

  • Joe Cordaro

    (National Marine Fisheries Service)

  • Robert DeLong

    (National Marine Mammal Laboratory)

  • Andrew De Vogelaere

    (Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary)

  • James Harvey

    (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories)

  • Martin Haulena

    (The Marine Mammal Center)

  • Kathi Lefebvre

    (Institute of Marine Science, University of California at Santa Cruz)

  • Tom Lipscomb

    (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Veterinary Pathology)

  • Susan Loscutoff

    (California Department of Health Services Food and Drug Branch)

  • Linda J. Lowenstine

    (Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis)

  • Roman Marin III

    (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)

  • Peter E. Miller

    (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)

  • William A. McLellan

    (Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Willmington)

  • Peter D. R. Moeller

    (Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/National Ocean Service)

  • Christine L. Powell

    (Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/National Ocean Service)

  • Teri Rowles

    (National Marine Fisheries Service)

  • Paul Silvagni

    (Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis)

  • Mary Silver

    (Institute of Marine Science, University of California at Santa Cruz)

  • Terry Spraker

    (College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University)

  • Vera Trainer

    (NOAA/NMFS/ECD)

  • Frances M. Van Dolah

    (Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/National Ocean Service)

Abstract

Over 400 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) died and many others displayed signs of neurological dysfunction along the central California coast during May and June 1998. A bloom of Pseudo-nitzschia australis (diatom) was observed in the Monterey Bay region during the same period. This bloom was associated with production of domoic acid (DA), a neurotoxin1 that was also detected in planktivorous fish, including the northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), and in sea lion body fluids. These and other concurrent observations demonstrate the trophic transfer of DA resulting in marine mammal mortality. In contrast to fish, blue mussels (Mytilus edulus) collected during the DA outbreak contained no DA or only trace amounts. Such findings reveal that monitoring of mussel toxicity alone does not necessarily provide adequate warning of DA entering the food web at levels sufficient to harm marine wildlife and perhaps humans.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher A. Scholin & Frances Gulland & Gregory J. Doucette & Scott Benson & Mark Busman & Francisco P. Chavez & Joe Cordaro & Robert DeLong & Andrew De Vogelaere & James Harvey & Martin Haulena & , 2000. "Mortality of sea lions along the central California coast linked to a toxic diatom bloom," Nature, Nature, vol. 403(6765), pages 80-84, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:403:y:2000:i:6765:d:10.1038_47481
    DOI: 10.1038/47481
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    Cited by:

    1. Paulo Nunes & Jeroen van den Bergh, 2004. "Can People Value Protection against Invasive Marine Species? Evidence from a Joint TC–CV Survey in the Netherlands," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 28(4), pages 517-532, August.
    2. Lynn M. Grattan & Laura Kaddis & J. Kate Tracy & John Glenn Morris, 2021. "Long Term Memory Outcome of Repetitive, Low-Level Dietary Exposure to Domoic Acid in Native Americans," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-10, April.
    3. Young-Sang Kim & Hyun-Joo An & Jaeseong Kim & You-Jin Jeon, 2022. "Current Situation of Palytoxins and Cyclic Imines in Asia-Pacific Countries: Causative Phytoplankton Species and Seafood Poisoning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-22, April.

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