This review provides an in-depth survey of the recorded incidences in aquatic organisms of mortality and disease events suspected or known to be caused by microalgal or ciliate blooms, their biotoxins, or their harmful mechanisms. Some 200 species of dinoflagellates, diatoms, raphidophytes, prymnesiophytes, silicoflagellates, cilliates, and cyanobacteria are currently known to be, suspected to be, or have the potential to be toxic or harmful to a wide spectrum of organisms. This review summarizes the current information on toxic or harmful microalgal species that affect aquatic organisms (and, when relevant, those that affect terrestrial organisms, including humans), provides an updated list of such species, cites pertinent case histories, and includes relevant information on harmful or toxic species from freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems. It is hoped that this review will provide documentation and reference material suitable for researchers, students, managers, and resource and health professionals alike and that it will stimulate future research questions critical to our understanding of harmful algal bloom (HAB) species and the significant effects they have upon aquatic systems. |
