Abstract
The fluctuations of biochemical and molecular activities III the harmful dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, depending on water temperatures, were studied. In genomic DNA concentration, a similar value of 0.6 was shown at $12^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$, but significantly increasing DNA from $18^{\circ}C$ (p<0.05), with a maximum of 1.8 at $24^{\circ}C$. After$24^{\circ}C$, the DNA significantly decreased to 0.6. Likely, the concentrations of RNA and total protein were at their highest values of 1.7 and 0.07 g $mL^1$ at $24^{\circ}C$, respectively. In contrast to ONA, RNA and total protein began to increase at $15^{\circ}C$. Oxygen availability between lower and higher temperatures was significantly different and increased from $18^{\circ}C$ according to light intensity, regardless of wavelengths (p<0.05). At $24^{\circ}C$, the highest value of the maximum electron transport rate (ETRmax), ranging from 537.9 (Ch 1) to 602.5 mol electrons $g^{-1}$ Ch1 a $s^{-1}$ (Ch 4), was also shown. Nitrate reductase (NR) and ATPase activities were at their highest values of 0.11 mol $NO_2^-g^{-1}$ Ch1 a $h^{-1}$ and 0.78 pmol 100 $mg^{-1}$ $at^2$ $4^{\circ}C$, respectively. When the cells cultured at $15^{\circ}C$, NR and ATPase activities significantly increased compared to $12^{\circ}C$ (p<0.05). In an analysis of CHN, the concentration of C and N also significantly increased (p<0.05). However, at $27^{\circ}C$, most of the molecular and biochemical movements were much lower, compared to $24^{\circ}C$. These results suggest that C. polykrikoides is very sensitive biochemical and molecular activities depending on water temperatures. Possibly, it is desirable to estimate at $18^{\circ}C$ the initiation of the massive blooming development of C. polykrikoides. In nature, it will be very difficult to maintain the massive blooms after $24^{\circ}C$ because of the possibility of significantly decreasing the molecular movement and activity of C. polykrikoides.