| Algal blooms produced by toxic dinoflagellates have increased worldwide, resulting in economic losses to aquaculture and fisheries. Bivalve species differ in their ability to feed on toxin-producing dinoflagellates and this could result in differences in toxin accumulation among species. In New Zealand, the effects of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins on the physiology of bivalve molluscs are relatively unknown. We hypothesised that the feeding responses of five New Zealand bivalve species exposed to PSP-toxic dinoflagellates would be species-specific, affecting their accumulation of toxins. Each species was exposed to toxic and non-toxic species of Alexandrium spp. and clearance rate used as an index of sensitivity to PSP toxins. Clearance rates... |
