Is the distribution of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella expanding along the NW Mediterranean coast?

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 222:73-83 (2001) - doi:10.3354/meps222073 Is the distribution of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella expanding along the NW Mediterranean coast? Magda Vila*, Esther Garcés, Mercedes Masó, Jordi Camp Institut de Ciències del Mar, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain *E-mail: magda@icm.csic.es ABSTRACT: The toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella is usually known as a cold waters species; however, during the summer of 1996 a bloom was observed in the Barcelona harbour (water temperatures above 20°C). This was the first time that an A. catenella bloom occurred in Catalan waters. Recurrent blooms have been observed annually from 1996 to 1999 during the warm season in this harbour. Since its first detection A. catenella has been recorded at an increasing number of stations along the coast, suggesting a progressive areal expansion. Two toxic, widespread events of this species occurred in non-confined coastal waters along 100 km of coastline during the summers of 1998 and 1999. We argue that the newly constructed harbours, serving as confined habitats for the development and maintenance of A. catenella, have contributed to the expansion of the dinoflagellate on the NW Mediterranean coast. KEY WORDS: Toxic dinoflagellate · Alexandrium catenella · NW Mediterranean Sea · Harmful algal blooms · HAB Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 222. Online publication date: November 05, 2001 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2001 Inter-Research.