Russian researchers map fungal toxins in brown algae from the White Sea
Scientists from Moscow State University examined the chemical makeup of toxins found in brown algae living in the White Sea. The study, released by the university’s press service, highlights how these seaweeds can accumulate a variety of fungal toxins that may differ across habitats and seasonal conditions.
In the White Sea’s tidal zone, brown seaweeds belonging to the fucoid group are plentiful and most visible as the water recedes. Among them are Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus distichus, and Fucus vesiculosus. These species, along with their ecological variations or ekads, show notable adaptability to their surroundings. In many ways they mirror certain land plants, such as pine trees, which likewise exhibit distinct structural forms depending on whether they grow in swamps or in coniferous forests. Beyond their ecological roles, fucoids are subject to fisheries and hold practical value for industries that produce fertilizers, dietary supplements, and cosmetics.
Against this backdrop, biologists from Moscow State University set out to identify which fungal toxins might be present in the thalli of these algae. The team collected samples from the bed of Kandalaksha Bay, dried them promptly after extraction to preserve their chemical state, then ground the material and tested for sixteen potential mycotoxins using enzyme immunoassay techniques.
The results showed that every one of the targeted mycotoxins appeared in the thalli across all species studied and in every ecological form examined. Yet the amount of each toxin varied widely among forms and species, indicating a complex pattern of toxin accumulation linked to habitat and morphology.
In particular, the study found that the sublittoral form of the algae tended to harbor the highest concentrations of mycotoxins. Within this group, Fucus vesiculosus f. giant displayed higher toxin levels than other ekads of vesiculosus across the board. In contrast, the coastal forms of F. vesiculosus, including the unbound ecad vehovianus, showed much lower toxin contents. Regarding other fucoids, the data revealed that the typical bounded forms of F. vesiculosus and the dwarf forms of F. vesiculosus had relatively elevated toxin levels compared with some of their unbound littoral counterparts. Moving to F. distichus, the content and variety of mycotoxins remained comparatively stable between ecads, although concentrations tended to be lower than those observed in vesiculosus forms. For Ascophyllum nodosum, toxin levels were generally lower than those found in F. vesiculosus and F. distichus, with a noticeable decline from higher to lower forms along the shore. A. nodosum ecads such as scorpions and the dwarf ecad muscoides were mostly restricted to the upper shore, and their mycotoxin levels reflected that limited distribution and exposure. These patterns were described by biologist Marina Georgieva as a clear signal that toxin content correlates with position on the shore and with specific ekads within each species.
This research offers more than a snapshot of toxin presence. It contributes to a deeper understanding of marine ecosystems, clarifying how ekad formation relates to chemical defenses and ecological adaptation. The findings could also guide future work aimed at discovering new biological compounds in algae that might be useful to various industries, from agri-food to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Additional notes from the study emphasize that these observations pave the way for a broader view of how environmental factors shape chemical profiles in brown algae, potentially influencing fisheries management, seasonal harvesting strategies, and the development of bioactive products derived from seaweeds. The researchers stress the value of continuing longitudinal monitoring to determine how toxin patterns shift with changing sea conditions and climate-related impacts on the White Sea ecosystem.
Overall, the work underscores the intricate link between algal ecology and chemical diversity, inviting scientists and industry professionals to consider the latent benefits hidden in marine flora while remaining mindful of potential biohazards associated with fungal metabolites.