• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.181-192
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• 2011

Ballasting and deballasting of shipping vessels in foreign ports have been reported worldwide as a vector of introduction of non-native aquatic plants and animals. Recently, attention has turned to ballast water as a factor in the global increase of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Many species of microalgae, including harmful dinoflagellate species, can remain viable for months in dormant benthic stages (cysts) in ballast sediments. Over a period of four years, we surveyed ballast water and sediment of ships docked in two ports of Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Sampling conditions encountered while sampling ballast water and sediments were vastly different between vessels. Since no single sample collection protocol could be applied, existing methods for sampling ballast were modified and new methods created to reduce time and labor necessary for the collection of high-quality, qualitative samples. Five methods were refined or developed, including one that allowed for a directed intake of water and sediments. From 63 samples, 1,633 dinoflagellate cysts and cyst-like cells were recovered. A native, cyst-forming, harmful dinoflagellate, Alexandrium balechii (Steidinger) F. J. R. Taylor, was collected, isolated, and cultured from the same vessel six months apart, indicating that ships exchanging ballast water in Tampa Bay have the potential to transport HAB species to other ports with similar ecologies, exposing them to non-native, potentially toxic blooms.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.364-372
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• 1995

On the outbreak of paralytic shellfish poisoning in April 1993 in most of shellfish harvesting areas in Jinhae Bay, Korea, to clarify the toxin production of causative organism Alexandrium species, 19 axenic clonal isolates established from the benthic resting cysts in three different stations of those culture grounds were subjected to PSP toxin analysis by HPLC. Individual toxin content per cell was highly variable among the strains isolated from a sampling area and originated from an individual cyst. Average toxin contents in those areas revealed higher values of 54-70 fmol/cell. Toxin profiles included C1/C2(epiGTX8/GTX8), GTX1/GTX4 and neoSTX as the major components, and GTX2/GTX3, GTX5, C4, dcSTX and STX as the minor or sporadic ones. neoSTX on the dominant toxins showed not only most diverse compositional changes comprising $5-54 mol\%$ ranges but also no detection on the half of the strains examined, which were implicated in arising of heterogeneity with a genetic trait within a geographical region. When average toxin composition was compared, carbamate toxins comprised large proportions of $57\%,\;54\%\;and\;67\%$ as total toxin in St. 1, St. 2 and St. 4, respectively. These results suggested that an extensive paralytic shellfish toxification in Jinhae Bay could be largely due to the production of highly potent carbamate toxins in the causative dinoflagellate Alexandrium species.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2003

To describe dinoflagellate cysts from Gwangyang Bay, surface sediment samples were collected at 20 sites by the TFO core sampler on 24 August 2001, in coupled with a phytoplankton investigation by surface seawater sampling. More than 17 genera, 36 species of dinoflagellate cysts were Identified from the sediment samples of Gwangyang Bay, consisting of 14 species of gonyaulacoid, 14 species of protoperidinioid, 3 species of diplopsalid, 2 species of gymnodinioid, 1 species of tuberculodinioid and calciodinellid, respectively. Cyst concentrations in Gwangyang Bay varied from 115 to 2,188 cysts/g, and generally increased toward a western part of the study area. The highest cyst concentration was observed at St. 11 located in the northwestern region with 11 genera and 19 species(2,188 cysts/g), while the lowest value with 6 genera and 9 species(115 cysts/g) was observed at St. 3 located in the center of the study area. The predominant dinoflagellate cyst was Spiniferites bulloideus, followed by Alexandrium sp., Brigantedinium simplex and S. delicatus. The motile forms of eight dinoflagellate cysts recorded in the sediment samples were also observed in the seawater: Polykrikos swartzii/kofoidii complex, Scripssiella trochoidea, Protoperidinium claudicans(cyst name: Votadinium spinosum), P. pentagonum(: Trinovantedinium capitatum capitatum), P. conicum(: Selenopemphix quanta), P. leonis(: Quinquecuspis concretum), P. conicoides(: Brigantedinium simplex), Gonyaulax spp.(: Spiniferites spp.). In this study, heterotrophic dinoflagellate cysts show the highest concentration at St. 6 where the highest density of diatoms simultaneously observed from surface water sample. This result suggests that the grazing of heterotrophic dinoflagellates on the diatoms in high concentration caused the higher concentration of heterotrophic dinoflagellate cysts.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.68-72
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• 2009

To gain a greater understanding of the potential for future harmful algal bloom (HAB) outbreaks and to trace the dispersal paths of dinoflagellates, sediment samples were collected from 13 stations in the southeastern Yellow Sea. 23 different types of dinoflagellate resting cysts were identified from the samples. Protoceratium reticulatum (1-391 cells/g dry weight), Gonyaulax scrippsae (0-254 cells/g dry weight), G. spinifera (0-301 cells/g dry weight) and Alexandrium spp. (ellipsoidal type) (0-76 cells/g dry weight) were the dominant species at all surveyed stations. The overall distribution pattern demonstrated that the resting cyst densities were highest in the offshore area and decreased gradually toward the Korean coast. On the other hand, the composition rate of resting cysts of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate species to the total dinoflagellates was higher in the Korean coast region than in the offshore area. We supposed that this distribution pattern of dinoflagellate resting cysts appeared to be influenced by the hydrographic features and environmental conditions of the Yellow Sea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.202-208
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• 2004

The spatio-temporal distribution of dinoflagellate resting cysts was investigated by palynological processing to understand the harmful algal bloom (HAB) potential in the sediment of the Saemangeun area in 2003. In total, thirty-two dinoflagellate species were identified, and their concentrations were in the range of $6-1,618\;cysts{\cdot}g^{-1}$ (dry weight). The concentrations of resting cysts were higher in the spring (26 species, $64-1,101\;cysts{\cdot}g^{-1})$ and summer (30 species, $81-1,618\;cysts{\cdot}g^{-1})$ than in the autumn (32 species, $6-1,150\;cysts{\cdot}g^{-1})$ and winter (24 species, $25-728\;cysts{\cdot}g^{-1}).$ The composition rate of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate species to the total, which is closely related to the eutrophication process, to ranged from 6 to $29\%$ in the study area. The most dominant species was toxic Alexandrium tamarense/catenella $(25\%)$ followed by Gonyaulax scrippsea $(9\%)$ and toxic Protoceratium reticulatum $(5\%).$ Given the high abundance of the toxigenic dinoflagellate species, the Saemangeun area is considered to have the great potential for HABs in the future.