Growth Response and Cell Permeability of the Fish-Killing Phytoflagellate <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i> Under Projected Climate Conditions
Climate change and anthropogenic alterations in biogeochemical cycles are intensifying the frequency, duration, and potential toxicity of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in marine ecosystems. However, these effects are highly variable and depend on species identity, strain-specific traits, and local env...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Malihe Mehdizadeh Allaf Charles G. Trick |
| author_facet | Malihe Mehdizadeh Allaf Charles G. Trick |
| author_sort | Malihe Mehdizadeh Allaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Climate change and anthropogenic alterations in biogeochemical cycles are intensifying the frequency, duration, and potential toxicity of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in marine ecosystems. However, these effects are highly variable and depend on species identity, strain-specific traits, and local environmental conditions. Key drivers include rising sea surface temperatures, changes in salinity resulting from altered precipitation patterns and runoff, and elevated CO<sub>2</sub> levels leading to ocean acidification. <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i>, a euryhaline raphidophyte responsible for the widespread killing of fish, is particularly responsive to these changes. This study investigated the combined effects of temperature, salinity, and CO<sub>2</sub> concentration on the growth, yield, and cell membrane permeability of <i>H. akashiwo</i> using a Design of Experiment (DOE) approach. DOE facilitates a detailed and systematic analysis of multifactorial interactions, enabling a deeper understanding of complex relationships while maximizing efficiency and minimizing the use of experimental resources. The results revealed that growth and yield were maximized at higher temperatures and salinities, whereas cell permeability increased under cooler, less saline, and lower CO<sub>2</sub> conditions. These findings suggest that projected future ocean conditions may enhance biomass production while potentially reducing cellular permeability and, by extension, toxicity. This study highlights the value of the DOE framework in identifying key interactions among environmental drivers of HABs, offering a practical foundation for future predictive modeling under climate change scenarios. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c721535b303f46f4b7f2c18742c0d5362025-08-20T02:33:48ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-05-0117525910.3390/toxins17050259Growth Response and Cell Permeability of the Fish-Killing Phytoflagellate <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i> Under Projected Climate ConditionsMalihe Mehdizadeh Allaf0Charles G. Trick1Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaDepartment of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, CanadaClimate change and anthropogenic alterations in biogeochemical cycles are intensifying the frequency, duration, and potential toxicity of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in marine ecosystems. However, these effects are highly variable and depend on species identity, strain-specific traits, and local environmental conditions. Key drivers include rising sea surface temperatures, changes in salinity resulting from altered precipitation patterns and runoff, and elevated CO<sub>2</sub> levels leading to ocean acidification. <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i>, a euryhaline raphidophyte responsible for the widespread killing of fish, is particularly responsive to these changes. This study investigated the combined effects of temperature, salinity, and CO<sub>2</sub> concentration on the growth, yield, and cell membrane permeability of <i>H. akashiwo</i> using a Design of Experiment (DOE) approach. DOE facilitates a detailed and systematic analysis of multifactorial interactions, enabling a deeper understanding of complex relationships while maximizing efficiency and minimizing the use of experimental resources. The results revealed that growth and yield were maximized at higher temperatures and salinities, whereas cell permeability increased under cooler, less saline, and lower CO<sub>2</sub> conditions. These findings suggest that projected future ocean conditions may enhance biomass production while potentially reducing cellular permeability and, by extension, toxicity. This study highlights the value of the DOE framework in identifying key interactions among environmental drivers of HABs, offering a practical foundation for future predictive modeling under climate change scenarios.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/5/259design of experiment (DOE)<i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i>climate changegrowth ratecell permeability |
| spellingShingle | Malihe Mehdizadeh Allaf Charles G. Trick Growth Response and Cell Permeability of the Fish-Killing Phytoflagellate <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i> Under Projected Climate Conditions Toxins design of experiment (DOE) <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i> climate change growth rate cell permeability |
| title | Growth Response and Cell Permeability of the Fish-Killing Phytoflagellate <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i> Under Projected Climate Conditions |
| title_full | Growth Response and Cell Permeability of the Fish-Killing Phytoflagellate <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i> Under Projected Climate Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Growth Response and Cell Permeability of the Fish-Killing Phytoflagellate <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i> Under Projected Climate Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Growth Response and Cell Permeability of the Fish-Killing Phytoflagellate <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i> Under Projected Climate Conditions |
| title_short | Growth Response and Cell Permeability of the Fish-Killing Phytoflagellate <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i> Under Projected Climate Conditions |
| title_sort | growth response and cell permeability of the fish killing phytoflagellate i heterosigma akashiwo i under projected climate conditions |
| topic | design of experiment (DOE) <i>Heterosigma akashiwo</i> climate change growth rate cell permeability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/5/259 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT malihemehdizadehallaf growthresponseandcellpermeabilityofthefishkillingphytoflagellateiheterosigmaakashiwoiunderprojectedclimateconditions AT charlesgtrick growthresponseandcellpermeabilityofthefishkillingphytoflagellateiheterosigmaakashiwoiunderprojectedclimateconditions |