Aquatic Physiology and Harmful Algae

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Harmful algal blooms have been a major environmental problem worldwide. Red tides, blue-green algae, and cyanobacteria are primary examples of harmful algal blooms that can have severe impacts on human health and aquatic ecosystems. Some harmful algae produce dangerous toxic blooms in both fresh and marine water but even nontoxic blooms hurt the environment and local economies. The algal toxins that are produced mainly include cyanobacterial toxins and red tide phycotoxins, and there are hundreds of other toxins that have been well identified.

The main types of red tide phycotoxins are ciguatoxin, saxitoxin, paralytic shellfish poison and diarrhetic shellfish poison, while cyanobacterial toxins such as microcystins nodularins constitute the major source of natural product toxins found in the surface supplies of freshwater. All of these can affect the physiology of aquatic animals.

Harmful algal toxins can accumulate in the liver, kidneys, muscles, and testes. By ingestion, respiration, or skin contact with these toxins, aquatic organisms are more susceptible to exposure and therefore harmful physiological changes. These toxins can have numerous effects such as hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. Although they have been shown to cause severe toxicity in aquatic animals and these effects have been both recognized and combatted for a long time, there are still some gaps in the understanding of these mechanisms on aquatic animal physiology.

Thus, the aim of “International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology” is to expand the knowledge of these mechanisms on the physiology of aquatic animals.

Hence, on behalf of our Editorial Board, invite you to submit the papers related to this research field in form of any article (Research/Review/Mini review/Case report/Short communication/Commentary). Submissions can be made online through our Editorial Tracking System or through email as an attachment to zoology@peerreviewedjournals.com

Media Contact:

Liza Smith
Managing Editor
International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology
Email: zoology@peerreviewedjournals.com