A cyano-anomaly? Cyanobacterial toxins as contributors to Lesser Flamingo mass deaths

Abstract

In the present study, significative HAB’S bloom was confirmed in Matanchén Bay during Febrary 2003. The Raphidophice Fibrocapsa cf. japonica, Toriumi et Takano 1973 (=Chatonella japonica) has dominated (97%) red tide event occurring lately in coastal waters of Nayarit state, with high cell concentration of 4-6 millions of cells per liter of water. The duration of this bloom could not be determined exactly due to limiting sampling. There have been no reports of fish kills or human intoxication in the locality. This study represents the first survey on the distribution of Fibrocapsa cf. • Mexico japonica in the Mexican Pacific coast. The finding adds Raphidophyceans to the list of harmful algal blooms and toxin producers in Mexico.