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Examining the Place and Role of Krill in Domoic Acid
Poisoning Sibel Bargu
Krill can serve as vectors
of domoic acid from algae to higher trophic levels. Although, when domoic
acid levels are high in the water column, the krill stop feeding on the
algae, and thereby may promote the toxic bloom. Please see the following
additional references: Bargu and Silver, 2003; Bargu et al., 2003;
Bargu et al., 2002; Bargu et al., 2002; Lefebvre et al., 2002; and Bargu et
al., (Submitted) This research found that
domoic acid can be transferred from Pseudo-nitzschia to krill and
then on to higher trophic levels such as whales. Poisonings associated with domoic acid have been
responsible for human deaths and also marine mammal and bird mortalities. Domoic acid is a toxin
produced by certain species of the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia. Thus,
understanding the fate of these diatoms and toxin through the food web is
important.
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