Impact of harmful algal blooms on wild and cultured animals in the Gulf of California.

Historical documents and classic works together with recent specialized literature have described Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the Gulf of California. This is a review of HABs impact (qualitative and quantitative) during the last decades in the Gulf of California on wild (mammals, birds, fishes, and invertebrates) and cultured animals (shrimps and fishes). Microalgal species responsible of noxious effects are Noctiluca scintillans, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Gymnodinium catenatum, Prorocentrum minimum, Akashiwo sanguinea, Chattonella subsalsa Ch. marina, Chattonella sp., Heterocapsa sp., Dinophysis sp., Fibrocapsa japonica, Heterosigma akashiwo, Thalassiosira sp., Chaetoceros spp., Pseudo-nitzschia australis, P. fraudulenta, Pseudo-nitzschia sp., Trichodesmium erythraeum and Schizotrix calcicola. Emphasis is given to the necessity to continue with interdisciplinary studies in oceanography, ecology, toxicology and toxinology interrelated with biomedical sciences such as physiology, pathology, epidemiology and animal health.

Freeze survival of the cyanobacteria Microcoleus chthonoplastes without cryoprotector.

A Microcoleus chthonoplastes strain SC7B9002-1 isolated from microbial mats in tidal channels from San Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico was subjected to short- (15 days) and long-term (2 years) conservation assays in liquid nitrogen (–196oC) using cryoprotective agents, such as 5% DMSO, 20% PVP-40, and 20% glycerol. Survival rate, chlorophyll a, protein, and nucleic acids content were observed in each case. Interesting growth and a significant increase in protein content was observed when no cryoprotectant was used during liquid nitrogen immersion. In the absence of a cryoprotectant, M. chthonoplastes lost their typical shape resembled spheroplasts, and recovery cultivation times after freezing were 5 and 25 days (short and long-term, respectively). Recovery from long-term preservation with 5% DMSO took 15 days. PVP and glycerol did not allow recovery of viable cells. The survival of M. chthonoplastes to freezing without cryoprotectant and the adaptive mechanisms that allow surviving under freezing conditions are discussed.