Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS22 Strategies To Reduce Mortality in Marine and Freshwater Phytoplankton

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001, Time: 10:15:00 AM

Location: Acoma/Zuni/Tesuque

Giner, J, L, Dept. of Chemistry, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY, USA,

Boyer, G, L, Dept. of Chemistry, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY, USA,

Faraldos, J, A, Dept. of Chemistry, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY, USA,

Li, X, , Dept. of Chemistry, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY, USA,

Zhao, H, , Dept. of Chemistry, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY, USA,

UNUSUAL STEROLS FROM HARMFUL ALGAE: MORE THAN BIOMARKERS?

Unusual sterols are found in harmful marine algae where they represent useful biomarkers. Dinosterol is found only in dinoflagellates and 24-propylidenecholesterol is found only in pelagophyte algae. We have found useful sterol biomarkers for Aureococcus anophagefferens, Aureoumbra lagunensis, and Gymnodinium breve. The biomarker for Aureoumbra lagunensis (24-propylcholesterol) is an extremely rare sterol, while the sterols characteristic of Aureococcus anophagefferens (24Z-24-propylidenecholesterol) and Gymnodinium breve (gymnodinosterol) are unique to these organisms. These biomarkers offer an alternative method of detection for harmful algae and are stable enough to allow us to probe the sediment record for evidence of past harmful algal blooms. Why do these algae produce these unusual sterols? What benefit is it to them? Many important grazing organisms rely on dietary sterols. Arthropods and molluscs lack the capacity for de novo sterol biosythesis and fulfill their sterol requirement by modifying dietary sterols. It is considered likely that unusual algal sterols interfere with this process. The inability for grazers to meet their nutritional sterol requirements may be important to bloom formation and maintenance.

This Session Listing

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks