Toxic microalgae on coral reefs and their seaweed hosts
I am investigating the effects of macroalgal (seaweed) biomass and species composition on toxic microalgal communities, focusing on several species of dinoflagellates that cause ciguatera poisoning in people. These dinoflagellates are found primarily in the tropics, and when they are consumed by fish that graze on the macroalgal hosts that they live on, the toxins that they produce are transferred to the fish. These toxins persist in the fish's tissue, and biomagnify as they are passed up the food chain. When people consume contaminated fish, they become sick with ciguatera poisoning. Ciguatera poisoning affects people around the world who live in tropical coastal areas, and is a particular issue in many Pacific and Caribbean island nations where I do my research.
© Amy A. Briggs, 2014