Distribution Of Dinoflagellate Cysts Research Articles

Exploring the underwater life in transitional environments: Benthic foraminifera, ostracods, and dinoflagellate cysts – Biotic trends and EcoQS assessment in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian sea, southern Italy)

Coastal areas have historically thrived as centers of human activities due to their resources, economic opportunities, and natural allure. The rapid growth of coastal populations has however brought forth a multitude of challenges to tackle, with pollution emerging as a significant and far-reaching issue. Our study focuses on the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy), a lagoon-like coastal basin (separated in two sub-basins) that, since decades, has been heavily affected by human activities and aquaculture, leading to environmental deterioration. Although past studies have looked at environmental conditions in the Mar Piccolo from a chemical perspective, the biological component (e.g., biological indicators) has been mostly neglected. In this study, we firstly aim to examine the distribution and diversity of foraminifera, ostracods, and dinoflagellate cysts in December 2016 and compare our findings with data collected in December 2011. Foraminiferal and ostracod communities exhibit similar patterns in the two sampling campaigns, while the communities of encysted dinoflagellates show differences concerning both densities and diversity. Then, we evaluate the Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) using ecological indices. While the indices in the inner basin appear to reflect an actual ecological degradation, they yield conflicting results in the outer basin. In the outer basin, indeed, the indices overestimate the EcoQS. This study highlights the potential of these indices for characterizing the EcoQS but emphasizes the need for improvements in their reliability. This research also contributes to a more holistic understanding of environmental condition in the Mar Piccolo and underscores the importance of integrating biological quality elements into ecosystem management and remediation strategies.

The utility of freshwater dinoflagellate cyst assemblages as a paleoecological proxy: An assessment from boreal lakes (northwest Ontario, Canada)

Aquatic palynomorphs have the potential to provide valuable insights into past environments but little has been done to assess the utility of freshwater dinoflagellate cysts as palaeoecological proxies of lacustrine environments. This study is the first to compare the distribution of freshwater dinoflagellate cysts found in surface sediments from 32 boreal lakes with varying physical and chemical characteristics. Cysts of Fusiperidinium wisconsinense, Parvodinium umbonatum, and Peridinium willei were nearly ubiquitous, but of the remaining cyst taxa, only Parvodinium inconspicuum, Peridinium limbatum, and Peridinium volzii were abundant but present in a smaller number of lakes. Assemblage composition broadly clustered into three groups: 1) an assemblage (primarily Peridinium spp.) associated with relatively shallow, mesotrophic lakes; 2) an assemblage dominated by F. wisconsinense in mesotrophic lakes with intermediate depth and relatively high pH and alkalinity; and 3) an assemblage dominated by P. umbonatum in deeper oligotrophic lakes. Moreover, changes in dinoflagellate cyst assemblage were assessed in a sediment core spanning the Holocene from nearby Gall Lake and interpreted alongside other previously published paleoecological proxies from this core. High abundances of many dinoflagellate cysts including P. limbatum, P. willei, F. wisconsinense, and P. inconspicuum were observed when lake production was high at a time when lake-levels were low and climate was more arid than today. This study suggests that dinoflagellate cysts in lacustrine sediments are, when abundant, promising both in modern and core samples, and the relationships between assemblages today and in the past can contribution additional information in understanding past ecological conditions.

Dinoflagellate Cyst Assemblage, Abundance and Distribution in Three Estuaries in Bone Bay, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Dinoflagellate Cyst Assemblage, Abundance and Distribution in Three Estuaries in Bone Bay, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

New physical and biological evidence of lateral transport affecting dinoflagellate cyst distribution in the benthic nepheloid layer along a land-sea transect off Figueira da Foz (Atlantic Iberian margin)

IntroductionThe production of resting cysts is a key dispersal and survival strategy of many dinoflagellate species. However, little is known about the role of suspended cysts in the benthic nepheloid layer (BNL) in the initiation and decline of planktonic populations.MethodsIn September 2019, sampling of the dinoflagellate cyst community at different water depths in the water column and in the bottom sediments, and studies of spatio-temporal changes in physical properties (temperature, salinity, density and suspended sediment concentration), were carried out along a land-sea transect off Figueira da Foz (NW Portugal) to investigate the dinoflagellate cyst distribution and the factors (physical and biological) affecting it. A clustering analysis was used to compare the BNL and sediment cyst records with the cyst rain recorded by a sediment trap at a fixed station. Furthermore, Lagrangian particle experiments enabled simulating cyst trajectories in the BNL 5 and 10 days before sampling and assessing cross-shore, vertical and alongshore transport within the studied region.ResultsA well-developed BNL was present during the survey, which covered a change from active (14th of September) to relaxed (19th of September) upwelling conditions. Organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts were dominant in all samples, although calcareous dinoflagellate cysts consistently occurred (at low abundances). High proportions of full cysts were observed in the BNL, of which a significant portion was viable as shown by excystment experiments. Moreover, BNL cyst records collected on the 19th of September along the land-sea transect were similar to the sediment trap cyst record but greatly differed from sediment cyst records. The heterotrophic small spiny brown cysts (SBC) and cysts of the autotrophic yessotoxin-producer Protoceratium reticulatum notably increased during the survey, in the BNL and in the water column above.DiscussionThe comparison of the BNL, surface sediment and sediment trap cyst records supported that the main origin of cysts in the BNL was the recent production in the water column. The spatial coincidences in the distribution of cysts and vegetative cells of Protoceratium reticulatum also supported that full cysts in the water column were being produced in surface waters. New data evidenced the presence of a significant reservoir of viable cysts in the BNL that have the potential to seed new planktonic blooms. Furthermore, back-track particle modelling evidenced that alongshore advection was the main physical mechanism controlling cyst dynamics in the BNL during most part of the survey period, being particularly intense in coastal stations (<100 m depth). Consequently, the sediment cyst signal is a mixture of locally and regionally produced cysts. We provide multi-disciplinary data evidencing that cysts recently formed in the photic zone can be laterally advected within the studied region through the BNL, contributing to a better understanding of the role of the BNL in cyst dynamics and tracing the seed sources of the new blooms.

Dinoflagellate cyst distribution over the past 9 kyrs BP from offshore east Tasmania, southeast Australia

Southeastern Australia’s marine waters are notably warming, surpassing global averages. This region has emerged as a strategic location for researching planktic microfossils, particularly dinoflagellate cysts, in modern and Late Quaternary sediments, offering crucial insights into the biophysical properties of mid-latitude waters. This study examined cyst distribution in marine sediment cores near Maria Island, Tasmania, southeastern Australia, up to 9000 years before present (kyrs BP). Dominant cysts included Protoceratium reticulatum, Protoperidinium spp. (P. avellana, P. conicum, P. oblongum, P. subinerme, P. shanghaiense), and Spiniferites spp. (S. bulloideus, S. hyperacanthus, S. membranaceus, S. mirabilis, S. pachydermus, and S. ramosus). Inshore, Spiniferites spp. constituted a higher proportion (up to 61%), while offshore was dominated by P. reticulatum (up to 80%). Impagidinium spp. and Nematosphaeropsis labyrinthus were exclusively found offshore and displayed increased abundance from ∼6 kyrs BP, suggesting a shift from a shallow to a deep-water habitat. Alexandrium tamarense species complex cysts were present over 140 years inshore and approaching 9 kyrs BP offshore, indicating a longstanding endemic presence. Gymnodinium catenatum cysts were detected exclusively inshore from ∼50 years ago, indicating a relatively recent bloom phenomenon. The East Australian Current’s limited southward reach is suggested by the absence of the warm-water cyst-producing taxon Lingulodinium polyedra. Similarly, the non-detection of the cold-water species Spiniferites antarctica and Impagidinium pallidum reflects Subtropical Front boundaries against subantarctic incursions from the south. In contrast to coccolithophores in the same core, no noticeable shift from cold to warm-water dinoflagellate cyst species was observed. This documentation of dinoflagellate cysts aids in predicting environmental impacts on local communities and beyond.

The dispersal of dinoflagellate cyst caused by international ships under repair conditions: a potential invasion risk to the Yangtze River Estuary, China.

The foreign dinoflagellate cysts in ships' ballast water tank sediments (BWTS) can be viable for a long time under hostile storage conditions. It is crucial to understand the detailed mechanisms of harmful biological invasions in estuary ecosystems. To study the relationship between the abundance of dinoflagellate cysts and environmental factors, cyst assemblages were analyzed in 7 sediment samples, collected from one international commercial ship that arrived in Shanghai in August 2020. Twenty-three dinoflagellate cyst taxa were identified in 5 groups, including autotrophic (9) and heterotrophic (14) species. Distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in the different ballast water tanks is heterogeneous. Dinoflagellate cysts in BWTS of the repaired ship were dominated by Scrippsiella acuminata, Protoperidinium leonis, Protoperidinium oblongum, Lingulodinium polyedra, Alexandrium tamarense/A. catenella, Protoperidinium pentagonum, and Protoperidinium subinerme. The abundance of the dinoflagellate cysts in each tank ranged from 80.69 to 330.85 cysts g-1 DS (dry sediment). Multivariate statistical analyses revealed that the variation in cysts from different tanks had positive correlations with total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and pH and negative correlations with total organic carbon (TOC) except for sample TK5. For germination of dinoflagellate cysts in BWTS, 12 species were germinated in 40days and cysts of potentially toxic dinoflagellate species were more abundant than those of non-toxic species. Results show that potentially viable and harmful/toxic dinoflagellate cysts are present in BWTS of ships arriving in Shanghai, China. Consequently, knowledge obtained in this study can be valuable for further managing of potential biological invasion of the Yangtze River Estuary.

Miocene dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy of the Península Valdés, Patagonia, Argentina

The present work documents the stratigraphic distribution of dinoflagellate cysts from the upper part (60–585 m) of the YPF.Ch. PV. es-1 borehole, Península Valdés, Argentina. The assemblages exhibit a relatively moderate to low diversity. Most samples are characterized by frequent to abundant taxa of the order Gonyaulacales, such as Spiniferites/Achomosphaera spp., Reticulatosphaera actinocoronata, Operculodinium centrocarpum, and Melitasphaeridium choanophorum. Furthermore, a continuous succession of Early Miocene–Late Miocene diagnostic dinoflagellate cyst events was recorded for the first time from the Península Valdés region. Eight diagnostic events of highest occurrences (HOs) of dinoflagellate cyst taxa are identified. These bioevents allowed a subdivision of the sedimentary succession into two well-defined stratigraphic sections: Early to Middle Miocene (Burdigalian–Langhian/probably Serravalian, 430/425–330/325 m) based on the HOs of Emmetrocysta urnaformis, Cannosphaeropsis quattrocchiae, Cousteaudinium auybriae, and Cleistosphaeridium ancyreum, and Late Miocene (Tortonian–Messinian, between 175–170 and 80/85 m) based on the HOs of Labyrinthodinium truncatum subsp. truncatum, Operculodinium piaseckii, and Reticulatosphaera actinocoronata. The ranges of these taxa are compared with well-documented information on Neogene dinoflagellate cysts recorded from different sites across the North and South Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. In general, the dinoflagellate cyst assemblages, as well as the selected diagnostic taxa, exhibit a clear similarity to those of the Northern Hemisphere. The only exception is Hystrichokolpoma rigaudiae, which is asynchronous, possibly indicating local paleoenvironmental conditions.

Evaluation of organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst distributions in coastal surface sediments of the China Seas in relation with hydrographic conditions for paleoceanographic reconstruction

Dinoflagellate cysts are commonly used to reconstruct past climatic, oceanographic and environmental conditions. Such applications are based on the relationship between modern dinoflagellate cysts and environmental parameters. To evaluate cyst diversity and driving factors of their distributions in sediments of the China Seas for paleoenvironmental reconstruction, dinoflagellate cysts were analyzed in 18 surface sediment samples from the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea (YS), the East China Sea and the South China Sea (SCS). A total of 59 dinoflagellate cyst taxa were identified with the greatest diversity reported in the SCS. The highest cyst concentrations were found in the YS, where Spiniferites ramosus, Spiniferites spp., and cysts of Pentapharsodinium spp. were predominant in the assemblages. The Yellow Sea Warm Current is likely creating the environment favoring the high numbers of Spiniferites ramosus in the YS. The highest Brigantedinium spp. abundances were observed near the Pearl River mouth and are positively correlated with sea-surface temperature (SST) in August. Spiniferites hyperacanthus, S. mirabilis, S. pacificus, and Lingulodinium spp. were most abundant in the SCS. In contrast, cysts of Protoperidinium spp. and Selenopemphix quanta were more common at the sites directly influenced by coastal upwelling rather than by river discharges. Redundancy Analysis results show that SST, sea-surface salinity (SSS) and nitrate concentration in water are statistically significant parameters influencing the cyst assemblages. We also examined the morphological characteristics of Spiniferites ramosus and recommend grouping S. bulloideus with S. ramosus in the northwest Pacific dataset for quantitatively reconstructing paleoceanographic conditions.

A combined approach detected novel species diversity and distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in the Yellow Sea, China

Resting cysts of dinoflagellates seed harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their geographic expansion, which makes it fundamentally important to obtain comprehensive inventories of dinoflagellate resting cysts in HABs-prone regions. The Yellow Sea (YS) of China has observed numerous outbreaks of dinoflagellate HABs with some novel species recorded recently indicating an underestimated HABs-causing species diversity. We report our investigation of dinoflagellate cysts of YS via an approach combining metabarcoding sequencing and single-cyst morpho-molecular identification, which identified many novel cyst species and a significant controlling effect of the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass on cyst composition. The metabarcoding and single cyst-based sequencing detected 11 cyst species never being unambiguously reported in China, 10 never reported as cyst producers, and 3 HABs-causing species never reported from YS. Our detections of many potentially toxic or HABs-causative, particularly novel, cysts and distribution pattern provide important insights into the risks and ecology of dinoflagellate HABs.

Diatom and dinoflagellate cyst distribution in surface sediments of the Chukchi Sea in relation to the upper water masses

Diatom and dinoflagellate cyst analyses were performed on 22 surface sediment samples from the Chukchi Sea to document their geographical distributions in one of the most understudied sections of the Arctic Ocean and to examine the influence of upper water masses on these two major groups of phytoplankton. Total concentrations vary from 0.9 to 5.9 × 106 valves g−1 for diatoms and from 0.8 to 12.5 × 103 cysts g−1 for organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts, with the highest values for both groups observed in the southern part of the Chukchi Sea and away from the Bering Strait. Well-preserved microfossils were recovered, with a total of 35 and 88 taxa of dinoflagellate cysts and diatoms, respectively. The most abundant diatoms are Paralia sulcata, Thalassiosira antarctica, Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii, and resting spores of Chaetoceros spp., whereas cysts of phototrophic Alexandrium spp., Operculodinium centrocarpum sensu Wall and Dale (1966), and heterotrophic Islandinium minutum and Brigantedinium spp. were most common in the dinoflagellate cyst assemblages. Cysts of HAB-causing Alexandrium spp. were found in most of the samples, with the highest abundances in Herald Canyon where they contribute ∼56.6% to the cyst assemblage. As expected, cysts produced by heterotrophic dinoflagellates were more abundant where sedimentary diatom concentrations were the highest.Statistical analysis identified three major diatom and dinoflagellate cyst clusters: 1. Sites influenced by the Alaska Coastal Current in the eastern part of the Chukchi Sea are characterized by high abundances of P. sulcata and O. centrocarpum sensu Wall and Dale (1966); 2. The western part and Herald Canyon in the northern part of the Chukchi Sea are distinguished by diatoms Chaetoceros spp., T. antarctica and dinoflagellate cysts of Alexandrium spp. and affected by the Siberian Coastal Current and Bering Shelf Water; and 3. Assemblages in the southern part of the Chukchi Sea are recognized by noticeable abundances of T. nordenskioeldii and cryophilic diatom taxa, and dinoflagellate cysts I. minutum, as well as by overall lower percentages of cysts of Pentapharsodinium dalei and Brigantedinium spp. This work revealed the potential applicability of the combined use of diatoms and dinoflagellate cysts for reconstructions of past dynamic water mass changes in the Chukchi Sea.

The role of physico-chemical interactions in the seasonality of toxic dinoflagellate cyst assemblages: The case of the NW Patagonian fjords system

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are recurrent in the NW Patagonia fjords system and their frequency has increased over the last few decades. Outbreaks of HAB species such as Alexandrium catenella, a causal agent of paralytic shellfish poisoning, and Protoceratium reticulatum, a yessotoxins producer, have raised considerable concern due to their adverse socioeconomic consequences. Monitoring programs have mainly focused on their planktonic stages, but since these species produce benthic resting cysts, the factors influencing cyst distributions are increasingly gaining recognition as potentially important to HAB recurrence in some regions. Still, a holistic understanding of the physico-chemical conditions influencing cyst distribution in this region is lacking, especially as it relates to seasonal changes in drivers of cyst distributions, as the characteristics that favor cyst preservation in the sediment may change through the seasons. In this study, we analyzed the physico–chemical properties of the sediment (temperature, pH, redox potential) and measured the bottom dissolved oxygen levels in a “hotspot” area of southern Chile, sampling during the spring and summer as well as the fall and winter, to determine the role these factors may play as modulators of dinoflagellate cyst distribution, and specifically for the cysts of A. catenella and P. reticulatum. A permutational analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) showed the significant effect of sediment redox conditions in explaining the differences in the cyst assemblages between spring-summer and fall-winter periods (seasonality). In a generalized linear model (GLM), sediment redox potential and pH were associated with the highest abundances of A. catenella resting cysts in the spring-summer, however it was sediment temperature that most explained the distribution of A. catenella in the fall-winter. For P. reticulatum, only spring-summer sediment redox potential and temperature explained the variation in cyst abundances. The implications of environmental (physico-chemical) seasonality for the resting cysts dynamics of both species are discussed.

Distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in the modern sediments from the coastal aquaculture area and its adjacent oceanic shelf in southeast China

Changes in nutrient loading due to coastal aquaculture and the targeted expansion of monitoring programs over the past few decades have amply demonstrated a marked increase in harmful algal blooms (HABs). In this study, viable dinoflagellate cyst composition and assemblages were investigated by evaluating and classifying their distribution patterns in surface sediments of the Fujian aquaculture coastal region of southeast China. The surface sediment at 5 stations during the spring and summer of 2019 to classify the dinoflagellate cysts present and identified 36 species representing six known and three uncertain taxa groups. The highest cyst was recorded at coastal station P11 in the spring (744.7 cysts g−1 DW), while the lowest cyst was observed at coastal station P5 in spring (50.9 cysts g−1 DW). The number and abundance of the heterotrophic species were greater than the autotrophic species, with the highest species volume belonging to the protoperidinioid group. We also detected potentially harmful algae bloom cysts that hold the potential to form their initial blooms in the sediments. It is important to note that six dinoflagellate cysts were found in the waters along the Fujian coast, as compared to historical data. Although the abundance of these cysts was not high, their presence indicates a potentially grave risk for toxic red tides. More alarmingly, these results suggest that seedbeds may trigger future blooms and outbreaks of toxic species in the present study area.

Dinoflagellate Cyst Distribution in Relation to the Sediment Composition and Grain Size in the Coastal Area of Pangkajene, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Dinoflagellate cysts have an important role for their bloom dynamics, which are commonly deposited along fine sediment grains and become the source of the next bloom. This study aimed to describe the cyst banks species composition, and their relationship with the sediment particles size and plankton composition in the coast of Pangkajene, South Sulawesi. Cysts observed in this study were extracted from seabed sediments collected from 9 sites. A potential cyst bank, with a cyst density of 240 cysts.g-1 sediment wet weight was found at PK-19, located in proximity to a large harbour complex. Although unusual, cyst density was significantly and positively correlated with the percentage of gravel. In contrast, the diversity of cysts seems to be affected by the percentage of fine sediments, such as silt and clay. None of the sediment composition was found strongly and significantly affecting both cyst density and diversity. A southward increase in cyst density was similar to the trend in the cell density of its planktonic form. Cysts of Protoperidinium spp., Scrippsiella spp., and Pheopolykrikos hartmannii were common and abundant in the sediment. Aside from Protoperidinium spp., most dinoflagellate species found in cyst form were absent from the water column. The occurrence of cysts of harmful dinoflagellates with records of devastating blooms in other coastal areas in Indonesia, such as Margalefidinium polykrikoides, Pyrodinium bahamense, and Gymnodinium catenatum, signifies a need to regularly monitor the area around Pangkajene coast to mitigate impacts of future blooms.

Assemblages of dinoflagellate resistance cysts and copepod eggs in superficial sediments at the upper Gulf of California

The diversity, abundance, and geographic distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in recent sediments serve as bioindicators to specific regions' environmental conditions and productivity. We present dinoflagellate cysts assemblages from 53 superficial sediment samples from the upper Gulf of California (uGC) obtained in July 2016 and February 2017. Forty-seven species were identified, of which twenty-seven are considered heterotrophic (Het) and twenty autotrophic (Aut). Ten species of this last group are potentially toxin producers (PTxS). The total concentration (Tot) of cysts in all the samples was 3481 cysts/g in 2016 and 4223 cysts/g in 2017. Aut represented 59%, Het 41%, while the PTxS represented ∼36.5% of the Tot cysts. The higher abundance of the Aut is likely to manifest the local high sea surface temperature and salinity. The increase in the Tot of cysts in the 2017 set was related to a Gymnodinium catenatum harmful algal bloom. Copepod eggs abundance was 7137 eggs/g in 2016 and 6555 eggs/g in 2017. The Aut Gymnodinium spp., Spiniferites spp., Operculodinium spp, and the Het Protoperidinium americanum, Quinquecuspis concreta, Selenopemphix nephroides, Brigantedinium spp., and Echinidinium spp., were typical in both seasons but differed on their concentrations between each season. The cysts distribution between both sampling periods reflects local currents and the sediment dynamics of the uGC, and the high species diversity in this area reflects the elevated primary productivity in this area.

Calcareous dinoflagellate cyst distribution across the K/Pg boundary at DSDP site 577, Shatsky Rise, western North Pacific Ocean

An analysis of calcareous dinoflagellate cysts has been carried out on sixteen samples from across the K/Pg boundary interval from Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 577 situated on Shatsky Rise in the western North Pacific. This is the first time that a detailed study of this microfossil group has been undertaken from deep sea sediments of Late Cretaceous–early Paleocene age in the North Pacific realm. Eight species of calcareous dinoflagellate cysts were found to comprise low diversity assemblages of which half are representative of extant taxa. The most pronounced bioevent is that of Cervisiella operculata reaching its highest proportions at the K/Pg boundary transition underscoring the utility and cosmopolitan distribution of the species with its acme as a marker for the earliest Danian. We also identify an indirect sea surface paleotemperature signal as represented by variance in wall thickness in two distinct morphotypes of Thoracosphaera heimii (morphotypes A and B). The cyst concentrations and relative abundances of these taxa are interpreted to reflect the late Maastrichtian warming event and subsequent late Maastrichtian cooling phase prior to the interval of gradual warming in the early Danian marked by the opportunistic capitalization of Cervisiella operculata during a time of ocean recovery following the terminal Cretaceous.

Environmental Factors Affecting Spatial Dinoflagellate Cyst Distribution in Surface Sediments Off Aveiro-Figueira da Foz (Atlantic Iberian Margin)

Resting cysts of planktonic dinoflagellates, once produced, sink to the seabed where they can remain viable for a long time. These cysts have important ecological roles, such as acting as the inoculum for the development of planktonic populations. Moreover, dinoflagellate cyst records from depth sediment cores are broadly used as a proxy to infer past environmental conditions. In this study, the main objective was to obtain information on the relationships between the spatial distribution of modern dinoflagellate cysts and present-day hydrography in the NW Iberian shelf. Cyst assemblages were analyzed in 51 surface sediment samples with varying grain sizes, collected at different water depths, following nine transects perpendicular to the coast, between Aveiro and Figueira da Foz (Atlantic Iberian margin). Multivariate statistical analyses revealed marked land-sea and latitudinal gradients in the distribution of cysts, and helped investigate how environmental factors [water depth, grain size, sea-surface temperature (SST), sea-surface salinity (SSS), bottom temperature (BTT) and surface chlorophyll-a concentration (CHL)] influence modern dinoflagellate cyst composition and abundances. Three main ecological signals were identified in the modern dinoflagellate cyst assemblages: (1) the heterotroph signal as the main upwelling signal; (2) the dominance of P. reticulatum and L. polyedra signal, indicative of warm stratified conditions, possibly reflecting transitional environments between more active inshore upwelling and warmer offshore waters; and (3) the G. catenatum signal for the presence of mid-shelf upwelling fronts. The almost absence of viable cysts of the toxic and potentially toxic species G. catenatum L. polyedra and P. reticulatum suggests that in the study area, for these species, there is no build-up of significant cyst beds and thus planktonic populations must depend on other seeding processes. These results are the first detailed modern distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in the NW Iberian Atlantic margin (off Portugal), and show a good correspondence with hydrographic features of summer upwelling season in the study area, meaning that they are reflecting water column characteristics and therefore may be used as supporting evidence for the interpretation of stratigraphic cyst records and reconstruction of past marine ecosystems in W Iberia.

The distribution of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in recent sediments of the Oualidia Lagoon, Morocco, with a focus on toxic species

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are becoming widely distributed and more frequent, threatening socioecosystems and human health. We determined species composition, abundance and spatial distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in the upper sediment of the Oualidia Lagoon located on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Sediment samples were collected in 2017 at 51 stations, and environmental parameters were measured together with microphytoplankton abundance. Sediment characteristics including water percentage, organic matter content and grain size were determined. Fourteen dinoflagellate cyst morphotypes were identified, with Lingulodinium polyedrum (50%) and Gonyaulax spinifera (22%) dominating the assemblages. Total cyst densities ranged from 0 to 293 cysts g−1 dry sediment. Cyst densities were positively correlated with water content and organic matter content and increased with decreasing sediment grain size. We revealed the presence of three neurotoxic dinoflagellate species: Alexandrium minutum, the Alexandrium tamarense species complex, and Gymnodinium catenatum. Numerous cysts had accumulated in the sediment, and, because they are likely responsible for the initiation of HABs in Oualidia Lagoon, they should be monitored.

Distribution of organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments of the southern Caribbean and the eastern tropical Pacific and its environmental implications

Little is known about the marine palynology of the neotropical oceans. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in 52 surface marine sediment samples from the southern Caribbean (SC) and the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) and explain how these assemblages relate to sea-surface parameters. Multivariate analyses show that of the several environmental parameters considered, sea-surface salinity (SSS), phosphate concentrations, and nitrate concentrations best explain the relative abundances and the geographic distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in the studied area. Consistent with regional differences in marine productivity, dinoflagellate cyst concentrations were markedly different in the SC (1979 ± 1053 cysts/g) and the ETP (3105 ± 1956 cysts/g). Sediments of the SC are characterized by high relative abundances of the Spiniferites spp. group, cysts of Protoceratium reticulatum, and the presence of rare dinocyst taxa. The dinocyst assemblages from the ETP are characterized by higher relative and absolute abundances of Bitectatodinium spongium, Brigantedinium spp., and Echinidinium aculeatum. This pattern is explained by the more eutrophic nature of the ETP compared to the highly saline and oligotrophic SC. Average values of the Shannon Index (H′) from the ETP are higher compared to the SC, demonstrating that dinocysts respond to the greater climatic variability that characterizes the ETP. Brigantedinium spp. abundances are negatively correlated to H′ diversity supporting its dominant character within the dinocyst community. This work fills a gap in our knowledge on modern dinocyst distribution in neotropical oceans and provides a modern reference for interpreting down core dinocyst variations and paleocenographical reconstructions in the region.

Drivers of dinoflagellate benthic cyst assemblages in the NW Patagonian Fjords System and its adjacent oceanic shelf, with a focus on harmful species

In recent decades, the alteration of coastal food webs (via aquaculture, fishing, and leisure activities), nutrient loading, and an expansion of monitoring programs have prompted an apparent worldwide rise in Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs). Over this time, a parallel increase in HABs has also been observed in the Chilean southern austral region (Patagonia fjords). HAB species like Alexandrium catenella—responsible for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)—are of great public concern due to their negative socioeconomic impacts and significant northward geographical range expansion. Many toxic dinoflagellate species (like A. catenella) produce benthic resting cysts, yet a holistic understanding of the physical-chemical and biological conditions influencing the distributions of cysts in this region is lacking. In this study, we measured a combination of hydrographic (temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen) and sediment physical-chemical properties (temperature, pH and redox potential), in addition to meiofaunal abundances –as sediment bioturbators and potential cyst predators– to determine the factors influencing dinoflagellate cyst distribution, with emphasis on A. catenella in and around a “hotspot” area of southern Chile. An analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) test revealed significant differences (p < 0.011) in cyst assemblages between the fjords and oceanic environments. Permutational Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA) showed significant effects of sediment temperature and silt proportion in explaining differences in the cyst assemblages. A generalized linear model (GLM) indicated that sediment temperature, silt/sand, anoxic conditions, and low abundances of Harpacticoida —a meiofauna herbivore group and potential bioturbator— are associated with the higher resting cyst abundances of the harmful species A. catenella. The implications for A. catenella resting cysts dynamics are discussed, highlighting physical-chemical and biological interactions and their potential for PSP outbreak initiation.

Dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments at Van Phong Bay, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam: distribution, abundance and potentially harmful algal blooms

Studies on dinoflagellate cysts provide important knowledge on the ecology of dinoflagellates and harmful algal blooms (HABs). In this study, distribution and abundance of dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments from 17 stations at Van Phong Bay were analyzed. There were 55 different types of cysts representing 3 orders and 18 genera, and 8 unidentified cyst types recorded. Peridiniales was the most diverse order with 29 cyst types, including 20 Protoperidinium cyst types. There were 10 cyst types of 7 potential toxic dinoflagellate species and 4 of bloom forming species found, indicating a potential risk of harmful algal blooms in Van Phong Bay. Number of cyst types and density ranged from 12 to 31 types and from 115 to 3,760 per gram of dry weight sediment, respectively. Cysts of Leonella granifera were dominant at stations in the mouth of the Bay, while Scrippsiella trochoidea cysts dominated at all stations. Shannon diversity index (H') was low, varying from 1.192.72. There were two distinct cyst assemblages identified with 40% Bray-Curtis similarity, assemblage I with 2 stations (VP09 and VP10), and assemblage II with the other stations.