Proliferation of Levanderina fissa and Polykrikos hartmannii (dinophyceae: Gymnodiniales) in Bahía de La Paz, Gulf of California, México.

I Gárate -Lizárraga

doi:10.37543/oceanides.v29i2.137

Abstract

On 19–20 August 2014, a moderate proliferation of dinoflagellates was detected in the southwestern part of Bahía de La Paz. The phytoplankton community within this red tide was composed of 60 microalgae taxa and was characterized by the presence of unarmored dinoflagellates such as Levanderina fissa and Polykrikos hartmannii. The proliferation occurred during low tide after a period of windy and rainy days. Densities of L. fissa varied from 163 to 265 × 103 cells L–1 and for P. hartmannii varied from 16 to 33 × 103 cells L–1. Low densities were estimated on September and October samplings. Both species showed a great variation both in size and form. As part of the phytoplankton species composition during this proliferation, two taxa of dinoflagellates are new records for the Pacific coast of Mexico (Ankistrodinium semilunatum and Sclerodinium calyptroglyphe), one in the Gulf of California (Pronoctiluca acuta), and one in the Bahía de La Paz (Prorocentrumrobustum). Cyanobacteria were an important group observed during this proliferation. The symbiotic association between a cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp., the stramenopile protist Solenicola setigera, and the diatom Leptocylindrus mediterraneus was observed for the first time in this bay.

Highlights

Microalgae proliferations are frequent and periodic throughout the year in Bahía de La Paz in the southwestern part of the Gulf of California (Gárate-Lizárraga et al, 2001; 2006)
The most common blooming species recorded in Bahía de La Paz are Noctiluca scintillans Kofoid & Swezy 1921, Gymnodinium catenatum Graham 1943, Cochlodinium polykrikoides Margalef 1961, C. fulvescens
Main unarmored dinoflagellate orders reported in Bahía de La Paz are: Actiniscales, Amphilothales, Brachidiniales, Gymnodiniales, and Noctilucales

Summary

Introduction

Microalgae proliferations are frequent and periodic throughout the year in Bahía de La Paz in the southwestern part of the Gulf of California (Gárate-Lizárraga et al, 2001; 2006). Proliferación de Levanderina fissa y Polykrikos hartmannii (Dinophyceae: Gymnodiniales) en Bahía de La Paz, Golfo de California, México Sclerodinium calyptroglyphe), un taxón para el Golfo de California (Pronoctiluca acuta) y un taxón para la Bahía de La Paz (Prorocentrum robustum).

Results

Conclusion