Biological magnification of ciguatoxin: a quantitative approach

Abstract

Ciguatoxins, the causative agent of ciguatera fish poisoning, are a group of potent neurotoxins produced worldwide in tropical and subtropical marine coastal ecosystems by several dinoflagellate species within the genus Gambierdiscus. It has been hypothesized that the multiple chemical congeners of ciguatoxin are lipid-soluble molecules that are biologically magnified through coral reef food webs. This study attempts for the first time to quantify this biological magnification via correlation between estimations of fractional trophic position and estimations of ciguatoxin concentrations for individual wild-caught fish within a known feeding relationship. This study focuses on the carnivorous grouper, Cephalopholis argus, and 22 potentially ciguatoxic prey fish species.