Algicidal bacteria associated with blooms of a toxic dinoflagellate in a temperate Australian estuary

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 244:1-15 (2002) - doi:10.3354/meps244001 Algicidal bacteria associated with blooms of a toxic dinoflagellate in a temperate Australian estuary J. H. Skerratt1,2,*, J. P. Bowman1,2,3, G. Hallegraeff4, S. James5, P. D. Nichols1,2,6 1Antarctic Cooperative Research Center, 2Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies (IASOS), 3School of Agricultural Science, and 4School of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia 5School of Microbiology and Immunology, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia 6Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Marine Research Division, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia *Email: jenny.skerratt@utas.edu.au ABSTRACT: Gymnodinium catenatum is an introduced toxic dinoflagellate that blooms intermittently and causes shellfish farm closure in the Huon Estuary, Tasmania, Australia. Seventy-five bacteria isolated from the estuary were tested for algicidal activity against this and other toxic and non-toxic algal species. Five isolates produced algicidal extracellular exudates. These algicidal species were a Pseudoalteromonas sp. (ACEM 4), a novel Zobellia sp. (ACEM 20), a strain of Cellulophaga lytica (ACEM 21) and 2 Firmicutes: a novel Planomicrobium sp. (ACEM 22) and a strain of Bacillus cereus (ACEM 32). This study is the first time Gram-positive bacteria have been associated with algicidal activities. Further data are presented on an algicidal Pseudoalteromonas species previously isolated from the Huon Estuary (Strain y). Supernatant produced by all 5 strains caused cell lysis and death in G. catenatum vegetative cells. No change or reversible ecdysis was noted for 2 other endemic dinoflagellate species. Algicidal or inhibitory activity was not activated via homoserine lactones, but bacterial quorum sensing for the isolates was shown by means of the AI-2 mechanism. Algicidal activity from field isolates was also influenced by strain or environmental variation. Bacteria were capable of losing or switching off their algicidal ability indicating that the presence of an algicidal species in the environment may not necessarily signify that they are currently algicidal. Concentrations of algicidal compounds required for algal lysis in laboratory experiments indicate that the 5 bacterial species can be effective against G. catenatum vegetative cells if they dominate the bacterial population in the estuary, particularly when attached to particles. KEY WORDS: Algicidal · Gymnodinium · Pseudoalteromonas · Cellulophaga · Flavobacteria · Harmful algal blooms Full text in pdf format NextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 244. Online publication date: November 29, 2002 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2002 Inter-Research.