title: Multiple Stressors at the Land-Sea Interface: Cyanotoxins at the Land-Sea Interface in the Southern California Bight.
abstract: Blooms of toxic cyanobacteria in freshwater ecosystems have received considerable attention in recent years, but their occurrence and potential importance at the land-sea interface has not been widely recognized. Here we present the results of a survey of discrete samples conducted in more than fifty brackish water sites along the coastline of southern California. Our objectives were to characterize cyanobacterial community composition and determine if specific groups of cyanotoxins (anatoxins, cylindrospermopsins, microcystins, nodularins, and saxitoxins) were present. We report the identification of numerous potentially harmful taxa and the co-occurrence of multiple toxins, previously undocumented, at several locations. Our findings reveal a potential health concern based on the range of organisms present and the widespread prevalence of recognized toxic compounds. Our results raise concerns for recreation, harvesting of finfish and shellfish, and wildlife and desalination operations, highlighting the need for assessments and implementation of monitoring programs. Such programs appear to be particularly necessary in regions susceptible to urban influence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371, USA. tatters@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Avery O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Tatters
authors.affiliation: Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Boulevard, Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA. meredithh@sccwrp.org.
authors.forename: Meredith D A
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, 2375 Northside Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92108, USA. carey.nagoda@waterboards.ca.gov.
authors.forename: Carey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nagoda
authors.affiliation: German Federal Environmental Agency, Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06844 Dessau, Germany. lilian.busse@uba.de.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371, USA. gellene@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Alyssa G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Gellene
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371, USA. dcaron@usc.edu.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Caron
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D000458:Cyanobacteria; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Southern California Bight; anatoxin; cyanobacteria; cyanotoxin; cylindrospermopsin; estuary; microcystin; nodularin; saxitoxin