Heterosigma akashiwo

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Heterosigma akashiwo (Hada) Hada ex Hara et Chichara[1] is a microscopic alga in the class Raphidophyceae.^[1]

Description

Heterosigma akashiwo is a swimming marine alga that episodically forms toxic surface aggregations known as a red tide or harmful algal bloom (HAB).

Life cycle

Heterosigma akashiwo produces cysts as a resting stages.^[1]

Heterosigma forms massive brown tides that impact the survival of organisms at every trophic level. This alga has been shown to kill finfish, compromise fish and sea urchin egg development and impact copepod as well as oyster survival.[2] The 1997 H. akashiwo bloom in British Columbia, for example, coincided with a dramatic increase in mortality of captive salmon. [3] Moreover, the global distribution of H. akashiwo is increasing as is the frequency of H. akashiwo HAB formation.[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Hallegraeff, G.M and Hara, Y 2003. Taxonomy of harmful marine raphidophytes. in Manual on Harmful Marine Microalgae. Ed. Hallegraeff, D.M., Anderson, D.M. and Cembella, A.D. 2003. UNESCO Publishing. ISBN 92 3 103871 0.