Zooplankton Response to Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) Species Phytoplankton

Zooplankton is essential as a grazer of harmful algae blooms (HABs) phytoplankton species. This review will outline the HABs species of phytoplankton and the interaction and response of zooplankton to HABs species. HABs species of phytoplankton produce toxins, e.g., paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP), amnestic shellfish poisoning (ASP), and ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) that potentially harm zooplankton taxa. Zooplankton has various responses to HABs species. Some zooplankton taxa, mainly copepods, impacted the adverse toxicity produced by HABs species of phytoplankton. It can be seen by decreasing the egg productivity and egg viability and injurious swimming behavior of copepods. On the contrary, some zooplankton taxa are more tolerant of responding to HABs species. The HABs occurrence altered zooplankton structure communities. Before and after the blooms, the zooplankton was dominated by herbivorous and free spawner zooplankton, e.g., copepods and tunicates. While during the blooms, the zooplankton was dominated by carnivorous groups, e.g., jellyfish, chaetognath, and copepods. Copepod Acartia hudsonica has an adaptation strategy to respond to a noxious toxin produced by Alexandrium fundyense. This species is more tolerant to PSP toxin if they are historically exposed A. fundyense. PSP toxin tolerance can be measured through a toxic feeding assay.