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Updated: Oct 24, 2026

Determination of Total Lipid and Lipid Classes in Marine Samples
Published on: December 11, 2021
Occurrence of lipophilic marine algal toxins in surface sediments from representative polar seas and implications for
Haoshun Zhang1, Junhui Chen2, Tongzhu Han1
1Qingdao Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology Development and Offshore Eco-Environment Conservation, The First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, 266061, China.
Abstract:
Phytotoxins produced by harmful algal blooms threaten marine organisms and human health, yet research on algal toxins in polar marine system remains extremely limited. In this study, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to systematically characterize the composition, concentration, spatial distribution, and potential sources of lipophilic marine algal toxins (LMATs) in surface sediments from Antarctic Prydz Bay and the Arctic Bering-Chukchi Seas. Only low levels of pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2) were detected in Prydz Bay sediments (mean ± SD: 6.649 ± 3.669 ng/kg; n = 8), providing evidence of sedimentary PTX2 occurrence. In contrast, eleven LMATs were detected in sediments from the Bering-Chukchi Seas, reflecting markedly higher LMAT chemical diversity. Notably, azaspiracids, PTX2-SA, and gymnodimine were recorded for the first time in this Arctic region. The mean ± SD concentration of ΣLMATs was 6313 ± 2842 ng/kg (n = 10), dominated by yessotoxin (YTX) and okadaic acid. ΣLMATs displayed pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with elevated levels concentrated in the southwestern portion of the study region near the Chukchi Peninsula, whereas the Bering Strait region showed low concentrations. Considering the observed LMAT diversity, documented YTX-producing taxa in the northwestern Pacific, and high-latitude records of Dinophysis and Azadinium/Amphidoma, the sedimentary LMAT assemblage may reflect contributions from multiple toxigenic microalgal sources. Because the vastness and harsh environmental conditions of polar oceans make comprehensive mapping of toxigenic microalgae difficult, sediment-derived LMATs provide baseline evidence of LMAT occurrence in high-latitude polar environments.
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