Mortality of sea lions along the central California coast linked to a toxic diatom bloom

Christopher A. Scholin (), Frances Gulland, Gregory J. Doucette, Scott Benson, Mark Busman, Francisco P. Chavez, Joe Cordaro, Robert DeLong, Andrew De Vogelaere, James Harvey, Martin Haulena, Kathi Lefebvre, Tom Lipscomb, Susan Loscutoff, Linda J. Lowenstine, Roman Marin, Peter E. Miller, William A. McLellan, Peter D. R. Moeller, Christine L. Powell, Teri Rowles, Paul Silvagni, Mary Silver, Terry Spraker, Vera Trainer and Frances M. Van Dolah
Additional contact information
Christopher A. Scholin: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Frances Gulland: The Marine Mammal Center
Gregory J. Doucette: Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/National Ocean Service
Scott Benson: Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Mark Busman: Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/National Ocean Service
Francisco P. Chavez: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Joe Cordaro: National Marine Fisheries Service
Robert DeLong: National Marine Mammal Laboratory
Andrew De Vogelaere: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
James Harvey: Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Martin Haulena: The Marine Mammal Center
Kathi Lefebvre: Institute of Marine Science, University of California at Santa Cruz
Tom Lipscomb: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Veterinary Pathology
Susan Loscutoff: California Department of Health Services Food and Drug Branch
Linda J. Lowenstine: Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis
Roman Marin: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Peter E. Miller: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
William A. McLellan: Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Willmington
Peter D. R. Moeller: Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/National Ocean Service
Christine L. Powell: Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/National Ocean Service
Teri Rowles: National Marine Fisheries Service
Paul Silvagni: Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis
Mary Silver: Institute of Marine Science, University of California at Santa Cruz
Terry Spraker: College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University
Vera Trainer: NOAA/NMFS/ECD
Frances M. Van Dolah: Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA/National Ocean Service

Nature, 2000, vol. 403, issue 6765, 80-84

Abstract: Abstract Over 400 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) died and many others displayed signs of neurological dysfunction along the central California coast during May and June 1998. A bloom of Pseudo-nitzschia australis (diatom) was observed in the Monterey Bay region during the same period. This bloom was associated with production of domoic acid (DA), a neurotoxin1 that was also detected in planktivorous fish, including the northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), and in sea lion body fluids. These and other concurrent observations demonstrate the trophic transfer of DA resulting in marine mammal mortality. In contrast to fish, blue mussels (Mytilus edulus) collected during the DA outbreak contained no DA or only trace amounts. Such findings reveal that monitoring of mussel toxicity alone does not necessarily provide adequate warning of DA entering the food web at levels sufficient to harm marine wildlife and perhaps humans.

Date: 2000
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DOI: 10.1038/47481

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