Can the algicidal material Ca-aminoclay be harmful when applied to a natural ecosystem? An assessment using microcosms.

We assessed the ability of an artificial clay (Ca-aminoclay) to suppress harmful algal bloom species (HABs) such as Cochlodinium polykrikoides and Chattonella marina and investigated the ecological responses in the closed and open microcosm systems. The Ca-aminoclay induced rapidly and selectively cell lysis in the HABs. However, applying Ca-aminoclay could cause adverse impacts in terms of biological and environmental changes. The bacterioplankton abundance increased and then, the abundances of heterotrophic nanoflagellates and ciliates increased rapidly. Extremely poor environmental conditions such as increase in nutrients and development of anoxic conditions were sustained continuously in a closed system, while the environmental conditions in open systems deteriorated before recovering to the initial conditions. We evaluated the potential for the occurrence of a bloom of another phytoplankton after HABs had been controlled using the Ca-aminoclay. The Ca-aminoclay controlled blooms of Chattonella marina in mixed cell cultures containing a Tetraselmis chui. However, T. chui increased over time and then bloomed. Therefore, caution should be taken when considering the direct application of Ca-aminoclay in natural environments even though it offers the rapid removal of HABs.