AquaNISInformation system on aquatic non-indigenous and cryptogenic species |
Species | Alexandrium tamarense | |
Date of the first record (?) | To 1986 References: Touzet N, Franco JM, Raine R (2008) PSP toxin analysis and discrimination of the naturally co-occurring Alexandrium tamarense and A. minutum (Dinophyceae) in Cork Harbour, Ireland. Aquatic Microbal Ecology 51: 285-299. References (not structured): Silke J, McMahon T (2000) The implications of Alexandrium tamarense resting cysts in an area of shellfish aquaculture in Ireland. Marine Institute Unpublished Report. 12pp. Comments: The dinoflagellate may have been present for several decades at this site before it was found. The first record is from 1986. |
Recipient region (?) | Country: Ireland LME: 24. Celtic-Biscay Shelf LME sub-region: Celtic seas References (not structured): Silke J, McMahon T (2000) The implications of Alexandrium tamarense resting cysts in an area of shellfish aquaculture in Ireland. Marine Institute Unpublished Report. 12pp. O’Mahony JHT (1993) Phytoplankton species associated with imports of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, from France to Ireland. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen (Denmark). Mariculture Committee. C.M. 1993/F:26. ref: K/L Comments: The first blooms in Cork Harbour were noticed in the summer of 1986 (CB Duggan). However, local observations by fishermen claim to have seen discoloured water in previous years. The water discolouration Cork Harbour led to the identification of Alexandrium tamarense. |
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Source region (?) | Not entered Comments: The source region is unknown. It might originally have been as a result of an importation of American oysters, or it might be a native population. |
Pathway / Vector (?) | Unknown References: Dijkema R (1992) The risk of provoking toxic dinoflagellate blooms in Dutch coastal waters through immersion of imported bivalves originating from red tide areas. ICES CM (1992) K:48, 11pp. References (not structured): Minchin D (2004) Aquatic transport and the spread of aquatic species: challenges for management. In: John Davenport and Julia L. Davenport (eds) The effects of human transport on ecosystems: cars and planes, boats and trains. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, 244-265. O’Mahony JHT (1993) Phytoplankton species associated with imports of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, from France to Ireland. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen (Denmark). Mariculture Committee. C.M. 1993/F:26. ref: K/L Comments: It might have been transmitted with layings of American oysters from the North America east coast over the period ~1880-1930. In a separate study O'Mahony examining Pacific oysters in consignments to Ireland from France found fifteen species of dinoflagellate cysts in oyster guts and in the sediments trapped within vacant paired oyster shells. Dijkema considered that movements of oysters could provide a basis for transmitting toxic events to areas where consignments of oysters are relaid. |
Habitat type (?) | Estuary Port vicinity References: Touzet N, Franco JM, Raine R (2008) PSP toxin analysis and discrimination of the naturally co-occurring Alexandrium tamarense and A. minutum (Dinophyceae) in Cork Harbour, Ireland. Aquatic Microbal Ecology 51: 285-299. Comments: Shallow water areas where seed banks of cysts appear occur within the fine sediments in Cork Harbour and Belfast Lough. |
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Wave exposure (?) | Sheltered References (not structured): Tylor TJM, Lewis J and Heaney SI (1995) A survey of Alexandrium sp cysts in Belfast Lough, 1992. In Lassus P, Arzul G, Erard E, Gentian P and Marcaillou C. Harmful Agal Blooms. Lavoisier, Intercept Ltd, 835-840. Comments: The cysts occur in fine sediments and these tend to occur in sheltered shallow bays. |
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Salinity range (?) | Venice system: 6. Polymixohaline [18-30psu] 7. Euhaline [30-40psu] References: Touzet N, Franco JM, Raine R (2008) PSP toxin analysis and discrimination of the naturally co-occurring Alexandrium tamarense and A. minutum (Dinophyceae) in Cork Harbour, Ireland. Aquatic Microbal Ecology 51: 285-299. Comments: Blooms occasionally appear during July to September in some years. During one bloom salinities were 31-33psu. |
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Temperature range (?) | Unknown References: Touzet N, Franco JM, Raine R (2008) PSP toxin analysis and discrimination of the naturally co-occurring Alexandrium tamarense and A. minutum (Dinophyceae) in Cork Harbour, Ireland. Aquatic Microbal Ecology 51: 285-299. Comments: One bloom event took place at temperatures 19 to 20C. |
Population status (?) | Outbreak (Moderate level of certainty) References: Touzet N, Franco JM, Raine R (2008) PSP toxin analysis and discrimination of the naturally co-occurring Alexandrium tamarense and A. minutum (Dinophyceae) in Cork Harbour, Ireland. Aquatic Microbal Ecology 51: 285-299. Comments: In Cork Harbour up to 1147 cysts of A. tamarense per dry gram of sediment were obtained from the North Channel of Cork Harbour. These are moderate levels. Here there were blooms in 1991 and 1996 capable of producing PSP toxins. Elsewhere about the coast motile stages were found in Killary Harbour and Roaring Water Bay at low levels and cysts were not recovered from the sediments in these areas. In Belfast Lough a PSP event was noted in 1990. the cysts of A. tamarense were sought in a study in 1992 and up to 3330 cysts per dry gram of sediment were obtained and at these were found lower levels in the sediment down to 10cm. |
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Species status (?) | Cryptogenic References (not structured): Silke J, McMahon T (2000) The implications of Alexandrium tamarense resting cysts in an area of shellfish aquaculture in Ireland. Marine Institute Unpublished Report. 12pp. Comments: The status is unclear as it may be a native population. Other possibilities include cysts being discharged from ships' ballast water sediments or an introduced with American or France oysters as part of the trade and on-growing that took place in the Cork Harbour area in the past. The seed bed of cysts occurs in the North Channel the same area where oysters were imported to and laid on the shores in the past. |
Port vicinities | Port vicinity #1/2: Belfast Date of the first record: 1992 Population status: Established References: Tylor TJM, Lewis J and Heaney SI (1995) A survey of Alexandrium sp cysts in Belfast Lough, 1992. In Lassus P, Arzul G, Erard E, Gentian P and Marcaillou C. Harmful Agal Blooms. Lavoisier, Intercept Ltd, 835-840. Comments: The study is based on sediment samples. Port vicinity #2/2: Cork Date of the first record: 1986 Population status: Abundant References: Silke and McMahon (2000) and Touzet et al.(2008) Comments: Notice in 1986 on account of water discolouration. Such colours will have been noticed by local people in the years before. |
Created by | Dan Minchin |
Last update by | Greta Srėbalienė, 2016-06-23 |