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Tissue Concentrations and Congener Profiles of Harmful Algal Toxins in Seabirds, Forage Fish, and Other Organisms

Data Download [42KB] | Metadata | AK Science Portal | Project Site | Date Range: 2015 - 2022


These data are in four tables and contain results from screening tissues of marine organisms for the presence of harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins: saxitoxin and its related congeners (STX) and domoic acid (DA). Samples collected by USGS or submitted to our laboratory by partners or other stakeholders are screened using commercially-available enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). A subset of samples containing detectable levels of STX were subsequently analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The dataset herein consists of three tables the ELISA test results for STX and DA and HPLC summary results for STX for 1) birds, 2) fish, and 3) invertebrates.

**This data release supersedes a subset of these data previously published in the USGS data releases: https://www.doi.org/10.5066/P9UNY0FR and https://www.doi.org/10.5066/P9OK4I8M.

Author(s): Smith, M. M.; Van Hemert, C.; Gerik, D. E.

Suggested Citation:
Smith, M. M., Van Hemert, C. and Gerik, D. E., 2022, Tissue concentrations and congener profiles of harmful algal toxins in seabirds, forage fish, and other organisms (ver. 3.0, June 2023): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9MLNP9H.

Version History:
First release: July 2022
Revised: September 2022 (ver. 1.1)
Revised: April 2023 (ver. 2.0)
Revised: June 2023 (ver. 3.0)

Referenced Publication(s):

Van Hemert, C., S. K. Schoen, R. W. Litaker, M. M. Smith, M. L. Arimitsu, J. F. Piatt, W. C. Holland, D. R. Hardison, and J. M. Pearce. 2020. Algal toxins in Alaskan seabirds: Evaluating the role of saxitoxin and domoic acid in a large-scale die-off of Common Murres. Harmful Algae 92:101730. doi:10.1016/j.hal.2019.101730

Van Hemert, C., R. J. Dusek, M. M. Smith, R. A. S. Kaler, G. Sheffield, L. M. Divine, K. J. Kuletz, S. Knowles, J. S. Lankton, D. R. Hardison, R. W. Litaker, T. Jones, H. K. Burgess, and J. K. Parrish. 2021. Investigation of algal toxins in a multispecies die-off in the Bering and Chukchi seas. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 57(2):399-407. doi:10.7589/JWD-D-20-00057

Van Hemert, C., J. R. Harley, G. Baluss, M. M. Smith, R. J. Dusek, J. S. Lankton, D. R. Hardison, S. K. Schoen, and R. A. S. Kaler. 2022. Paralytic shellfish toxins associated with Arctic Tern mortalities in Alaska. Harmful Algae 117:102270. doi:10.1016/j.hal.2022.102270


DataID: 499 | doi:10.5066/P9MLNP9H | Date Posted Online: 2022-07-12 | Last Updated: 2023-04-26 09:41:23

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