Coupling taxonomic and chimical analyses to monitor harmful algae occurrence in lagoons (Venice and Po Delta System, Italy)

Harmful algae occurrence was monitored in the Venice lagoon and in the Po Delta lagoons by taxonomic identification with optical microscopy, and chemical determination of toxins by HPLC coupled with High Resolution Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (HR-TOF-MS). These techniques were coupled in order to verify the potential of a developing protocol overcoming the current anti-ethical and expensive Yasumoto test on mice. The abundance of potentially toxic cells resulted negligible, but toxins were anyway analytically detected and structurally confirmed by the high accuracy of the MS detector employed.