, a producer of toxins associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) and/or pectenotoxins (PTXs), is a mixotrophic species that requires both ciliate prey and light for growth. Linkages have been described in the literature between natural abundances of the predator and its prey, , and culture experiments have demonstrated that prey, in addition to light, is required for toxin production by ; together these suggest is a critical component for growth and toxicity. However, little is known about the role of dissolved inorganic nutrients on growth or that of toxin-producing .