Correlation between the presence of Gonyaulax fragilis (Dinophyceae) and the mucilage phenomena of the Emilia-Romagna coast (northern Adriatic Sea)

Abstract

The formation of massive amounts of suspended mucilaginous organic matter which periodically affects the Adriatic Sea, has been regarded as a complex physico-chemical phenomenon resulting from the production of extracellular material by phytoplankton. Although the exact cause has remained obscure, the mechanism of its formation has usually been considered to be a long-term process, starting after the late winter-early spring blooms, and involving the participation of various algal species, mainly within the diatom group. In this paper we report on the results of a phytoplankton monitoring programme in northern Adriatic seawaters off the Emilia-Romagna coast of Italy which revealed the constant concomitant presence of the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax fragilis (Schütt) Kofoid and mucilaginous formations. In the early stages of the phenomenon the dinoflagellate was clearly observable by microscopic examination in the mucilage, but as the mucilage aged this alga almost completely decomposed and diatom cells increased in number and became predominant. Although characterized by a slow growth rate in culture, in natural seawater G. fragilis was observed to reach cell densities of up to 7.0×10 6 cells l −1. The results of this study lead us to propose the hypothesis that the appearance of mucilage in the water column of the Adriatic Sea is the consequence of a seasonal growth of this dinoflagellate favoured by specific environmental circumstances.