Occurence and Variability of Domoic Acid in Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) Samples from the Golden Horn Estuary, Sea of Marmara (Turkey).

The occurrence and variability of domoic acid (DA) levels in wild Mytilus galloprovincialis samples, compared with the Pseudo-nitzschia spp. abundance and particulate DA (pDA) concentrations in relation to the environmental changes in the Golden Horn Estuary, Turkey from October 2018 to September 2019. Biotoxin analysis were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). DA concentrations in particulate matter (pDA) and mussel samples were found between 0.090-0.685 µg L and 0.905-2.413 µg g, respectively. Accumulation of DA in wild mussel samples could be the result of the increasing tendency of P.nitzschia spp. abundances between April and May. Maximum DA levels were detected in particulate matter when the salinity was measured as the lowest in May. Thus, it can be said that the DA production was driven by the significant salinity decrease in the GHE. This is the first attempt regarding the presence of DA in M. galloprovincialis samples collected from Turkish coasts.