New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Surveys for paralytic shellfish poisoning in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand (Note)

LINCOLN MacKENZIE

Cawthron Institute
Private Bag, Nelson, New Zealand

Abstract Surveys of phytoplankton populations over a 3-year period within the Marlborough Sounds revealed numerous dinoflagellate species that are common elsewhere in temperate coastal environments. However, none that have been implicated as the cause of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) were observed. Likewise, a total of 71 samples of cultivatedmussles (Pernacanaliculus) from farms within Pelorus Sound, Kenepuru Sound, and Port Underwood were tested by mouse bioassay with negative results (< 40 |ag/100 g). Although environmental conditions within the Sounds are suitable for the establishment of dinoflagellate dominated blooms, PSP does not occur. This could be because causative species are absent altogether, or because they are very rare, poor competitors with other species, or have so far gone undetected.

Keywords paralytic shellfish poisoning; PSP; toxic dinoflagellates; Marlborough Sounds; New Zealand

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1990, Vol. 24: 75-80 Crown copyright 1990
Received 4 April 1989; accepted 9 November 1989

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (524K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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