Data from: Algal toxin impairs sea lion memory and hippocampal connectivity, with implications for strandings

Domoic acid (DA) is a naturally occurring neurotoxin known to harm marine animals. DA-producing algal blooms are increasing in size and frequency. Although chronic exposure is known to produce brain lesions, the influence of DA toxicosis on behavior in wild animals is unknown. We showed, in a large sample of wild sea lions, that spatial memory deficits are predicted by the extent of right dorsal hippocampal lesions related to natural exposure to DA and that exposure also disrupts hippocampal-thalamic brain networks. Because sea lions are dynamic foragers that rely on flexible navigation, impaired spatial memory may affect survival in the wild.

软骨藻酸（Domoic acid, DA）是一种天然存在的神经毒素，已被证实会对海洋动物造成损伤。产软骨藻酸的藻类水华的规模与发生频率均呈逐年上升趋势。尽管学界已知长期暴露于软骨藻酸会引发脑损伤，但目前对于软骨藻酸中毒对野生动物行为的影响仍不明确。我们通过对大量野生海狮样本开展研究，发现自然暴露于软骨藻酸所导致的右侧背侧海马损伤程度，可预测个体出现的空间记忆缺陷；同时此类暴露还会破坏海马-丘脑脑网络。鉴于海狮属于依赖灵活导航的机动性觅食者，空间记忆受损可能会对其野外生存产生不利影响。