domoic

Urea pollution can trigger ocean algae to produce a deadly toxin called domoic acid, scientists have discovered.

Urea was the only chemical that increased domoic-acid production.

The result showed that HPLC analysis was a simple and effective method for determining domoic acid in water and aquatic animals.

Much like the kamikaze gulls portrayed in the 1963 horror film, animals poisoned by domoic acid have erratic behaviour patterns.

Domoic acid is a powerful neurotoxin produced by one kind of microalgae.

Domoic acid can also cause neurological disorders and death in animals that eat fish poisoned with the neurotoxin.

But unfortunately for other organisms, domoic acid is a potent toxin.

One possibility is that the squid are being killed by a toxin called domoic acid produced by certain marine plankton.

It is necessary to strengthen monitoring the contamination of domoic acid to prevent the toxin poisoning.

Domoic acid has been found in some marine shellfish and not in seawater or freshwater.

Or the domoic acid may help explain why they entered the marina.

Professor Caron said research shows that domoic acid poisoning can cause abnormal swimming in some kinds of fish.