Pfiesteria shumwayae is the 2nd
known toxic Pfiesteria species has a complex life cycle with an
array of flagellated, amoeboid, and cyst stages. Its life cycle and
behavior are similar to those of Pfiesteria piscicida, except
that it responds more strongly to nitrogen enrichment and less strongly
to phosphorus
enrichment than P. piscicida. This species is a heterotroph that
can become mixitrophic with kleptochloroplasts. The 2nd toxic
Pfiesteria species is distinguishable from P. piscicida both
morphologically (plate structure) and genetically (18S ribosomal DNA
sequence). Like P. piscicida, its toxicity is triggered by live
fish, and subsequent toxicity varies depending on its history of access
to live fish.
Excerpted from Glasgow, H.B., J.M. Burkholder, J. Springer and S.
Morton. “ A second newly described toxic Pfiesteria species from
estuaries of the mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S.. Abstract from the
presentation on March 11, 2000 at the Southeastern Research Society
Conference, Wilmington, NC. |
