Harmful algal blooms continue to threaten coastal ecosystems and seafood safety worldwide. Among the organisms involved, the benthic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima is a known producer of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins such as okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin 1. While earlier studies have linked low nutrient availability to increased toxin production, most have examined short-term stress responses. The effects of prolonged nutrient depletion on algal physiology and toxin accumulation remain less clearly understood.
Now, researchers from Incheon National University led by Professor Jang K. Kim have shown that extended nutrient deprivation can significantly increase toxin content per cell in P. lima , even when cell numbers remain relatively stable. Their findings suggest that toxin risk may increase quietly under nutrient-poor conditions without obvious bloom expansion. This paper was made available online on 21 July 2025 and was published in Volume 149 of the Harmful Algae journal on 01 November 2025. “We aim to observe changes in growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and toxin production in P. lima during the nutrient depletion period,” said Prof. Kim.
In this study, P. lima cultures were grown under nutrient-enriched conditions until they reached the stationary growth phase. At that point, nutrient supply was stopped, and the cultures were monitored for thirty days. The team measured changes in cell density, nutrient uptake, photosynthetic performance, pigment content, and intracellular toxin levels throughout the depletion period. Within just three hours of the final nutrient addition, the algae removed more than ninety percent of nitrate and nitrite from the medium. Phosphate levels were also rapidly depleted. Despite the absence of further nutrient input, cell density continued to increase slightly over the following month, indicating that the algae were able to sustain growth using internally stored nutrients.
Physiological measurements revealed a more complex response beneath this apparent stability. Chlorophyll a and carotenoid concentrations showed no significant change during nutrient depletion. In contrast, key indicators of photosynthetic efficiency declined markedly over time. Maximum electron transport rate, light saturation thresholds, and relative electron transport rates were all significantly lower after thirty days, suggesting reduced photosynthetic capacity under prolonged nutrient stress. Toxin production showed the most pronounced response. Okadaic acid levels per cell increased more than threefold over the nutrient depletion period. Dinophysistoxin 1 concentrations also rose steadily, more than doubling by the end of the experiment. These toxin levels were substantially higher than those reported in many previous studies conducted under shorter or less severe nutrient limitation.
According to the researchers, the accumulation of toxins may be linked to reduced cell division during the stationary phase. As growth slows, toxins may continue to be synthesized and retained within cells rather than being diluted through cell division.
The findings highlight an important disconnect between algal abundance and toxicity. Even when population growth appears limited, prolonged nutrient depletion can enhance the toxic potential of harmful algae. “This work provides a foundation for improving the prediction and risk assessment of DSP-related harmful algal blooms (HABs),” concluded Prof. Kim.
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Reference
DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2025.102932
Authors: Jeong Hwa Hwang¹, Ji-Sook Park¹ , ², Young-Seok Han³, Youn-Jung Kim¹ , ², Mungi Kim⁴, Seongjin Hong⁴, and Jang K. Kim¹ , ²
Affiliations:
¹ Department of Marine Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea
² Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea
³ NEB Co., Seoul, South Korea
⁴ Department of Earth, Environmental & Space Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
About Incheon National University
Incheon National University (INU) is a comprehensive, student-focused university. It was founded in 1979 and given university status in 1988. One of the largest universities in South Korea, it houses nearly 14,000 students and 500 faculty members. In 2010, INU merged with Incheon City College to expand capacity and open more curricula. With its commitment to academic excellence and an unrelenting devotion to innovative research, INU offers its students real-world internship experiences. INU not only focuses on studying and learning but also strives to provide a supportive environment for students to follow their passion, grow, and, as their slogan says, be INspired.
Website: https://www.inu.ac.kr/sites/inuengl/index.do?epTicket=LOG
About the author
Dr. Jang K. Kim is a Professor of Marine Science at Incheon National University, Korea, with over 25 years of experience studying marine algae and their interactions with the environment. His research focuses on harmful algal blooms, algal ecology, and sustainable aquaculture systems. He leads projects developing open-water and land-based aquaculture technologies, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), biofloc systems, and seaweed-based carbon removal strategies. His work aims to support safer seafood and more sustainable coastal management.
Harmful Algae
Experimental study
Cells
Effects of nutrient depletion duration on growth, photosynthesis and toxins (OA and DTX) in the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima
1-Nov-2025
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.