IDENTIFICATION OF HARMFUL MARINE DINOFLAGELLATES

Abstract

Faust, M. A.Department of Systematics Biology, NMNH, Smithsonian Institution, Suitland, MD 20746 USAAn interactive, multimedia taxonomic reference guide of harmful marine dinoflagellate microalgae was developed containing species information and identification keys in the form of text, photographs and illustrations. This treatise represents a comprehensive, up‐to‐date multi functional dinoflagellate identification database featuring information on 68 species (15 taxa) of harmful dinoflagellates and associated species present in the world's oceans. There are 42 toxins‐producing species, brevetoxins, saxitoxins and ciguatoxins, and seven nuisance species that produce ‘red tides’ often resulting in massive sea life mortalities. In addition to species description, information is available on the morphology, reproduction, ecology, toxicity, and habitat and type locality for each species. A comprehensive glossary of more than 120 related scientific terms, and an extensive literature reference collection containing about 500 citation is included. There are 600 figures illustrating each species via scanning electron micrographs (60%), light micrographs (20%), and line drawings (20%). The matrix‐based identification key allows for multiple entry of characters to facilitate fast and effective diagnosis of a given species. All this data can be accessed easily on a CD‐ROM, making this an excellent teaching tool and identification guide of harmful marine and associated dinoflagellate species. Here, I will present examples for several species of dinoflagellates in attempt to illustrate the usefulness of this identification guide in the lab or the field as a useful and valuable tool for the researcher, the instructor, as well as the students.