• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.75-99
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• 2014

A small dinoflagellate, Ansanella granifera gen. et sp. nov., was isolated from estuarine and marine waters, and examined by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the identity of the sequences (3,663-bp product) of the small subunit (SSU), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2), and D1-D3 large subunit (LSU) rDNA were determined. This newly isolated, thin-walled dinoflagellate has a type E eyespot and a single elongated apical vesicle, and it is closely related to species belonging to the family Suessiaceae. A. granifera has 10-14 horizontal rows of amphiesmal vesicles, comparable to Biecheleria spp. and Biecheleriopsis adriatica, but greater in number than in other species of the family Suessiaceae. Unlike Biecheleria spp. and B. adriatica, A. granifera has grana-like thylakoids. Further, A. granifera lacks a nuclear fibrous connective, which is present in B. adriatica. B. adriatica and A. granifera also show a morphological difference in the shape of the margin of the cingulum. In A. granifera, the cingular margin formed a zigzag line, and in B. adriatica a straight line, especially on the dorsal side of the cell. The episome is conical with a round apex, whereas the hyposome is trapezoidal. Cells growing photosynthetically are $10.0-15.0{\mu}m$ long and $8.5-12.4{\mu}m$ wide. The cingulum is descending, the two ends displaced about its own width. Cells of A. granifera contain 5-8 peripheral chloroplasts, stalked pyrenoids, and a pusule system, but lack nuclear envelope chambers, a nuclear fibrous connective, lamellar body, rhizocysts, and a peduncle. The main accessory pigment is peridinin. The SSU, ITS regions, and D1-D3 LSU rDNA sequences differ by 1.2-7.4%, >8.8%, and >2.5%, respectively, from those of the other known genera in the order Suessiales. Moreover, the SSU rDNA sequence differed by 1-2% from that of the three most closely related species, Polarella glacialis, Pelagodinium bei, and Protodinium simplex. In addition, the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequence differed by 16-19% from that of the three most closely related species, Gymnodinium corii, Pr. simplex, and Pel. bei, and the LSU rDNA sequence differed by 3-4% from that of the three most closely related species, Protodinium sp. CCMP419, B. adriatica, and Gymnodinium sp. CCMP425. A. granifera had a 51-base pair fragment in domain D2 of the large subunit of ribosomal DNA, which is absent in the genus Biecheleria. In the phylogenetic tree based on the SSU and LSU sequences, A. granifera is located in the large clade of the family Suessiaceae, but it forms an independent clade.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.111-126
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• 2019

The phototrophic dinoflagellate Biecheleriopsis adriatica is a small suessioid species characterized by a fragile thin wall. Although the morphology of this dinoflagellate is well established, there is currently little information available on its distribution and the environmental factors that influence this distribution. Thus, to investigate the spatial and seasonal distributions of the vegetative cells of B. adriatica in Korean waters, surface water samples were collected on a seasonal basis from 28 stations in the East, West, and South Sea of Korea and Jeju Island from April 2015 to October 2018, and abundances of the vegetative cells of B. adriatica were quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions, for which we developed the species-specific primer and probe set. Simultaneously, major environmental parameters, including temperature, salinity, nutrient concentrations, and dissolved oxygen concentrations were measured. The vegetative cells of B. adriatica were detected at 20 of the 28 sampling stations: 19 stations in summer and 6 in autumn, although from no stations in either spring or winter. The ranges of water temperature and salinity at sites where this species was detected were $17.7-26.4^{\circ}C$ and 9.9-34.3, respectively, whereas those of nitrate and phosphate concentrations were not detectable-96.2 and $0.18-2.66{\mu}M$, respectively. Thus, the sites at which this species is found are characterized by a narrow range of temperature, but wide ranges of salinity and concentrations of nitrate and phosphate. The highest abundance of the vegetative cells of B. adriatica was $41.7cells\;mL^{-1}$, which was recorded in Jinhae Bay in July 2018. In Jinhae Bay, the abundance of vegetative cells was significantly positively correlated with the concentration of nitrate, but was negatively correlated with salinity. On the basis of these findings, it appears that the abundance of B. adriatica vegetative cells shows strong seasonality, and in Jinhae Bay, could be affected by the concentrations of nitrate.

• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.183-195
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• 2015

The dinoflagellate genus Pelagodinium is genetically classified in distinct sub-clades and subgroups. However, it is difficult to determine whether this genetic diversity represents intra- or interspecific divergence within the genus since only the morphology of the type strain of the genus Pelagodinium, Pelagodinium bei, is available. An isolate associated with the genus Pelagodinium from Shiwha Bay, Korea, was recently cultured. This isolate was clustered with 3 to 4 strains from the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean. This cluster was distinct from the subgroup more closely associated with P. bei. The morphology of the isolate was analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopy and was almost identical to that of P. bei except that this isolate had two series of amphiesmal vesicles (AVs) in the cingulum, unlike P. bei that has one series. When the pigment compositions of the isolate and P. bei were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography, these two strains had peridinin as a major accessory pigment and their pigment compositions were almost identical. In addition, the swimming behaviors of these two strains were very similar. The reexamination of the type culture of P. bei revealed two series in the cingulum as for the isolate. The new findings on the number of series of AVs in the cingulum, the pigment composition, and the swimming behaviors suggest that P. bei and the isolate are conspecific despite their genetic divergence. This study provides a basis to further understand the molecular classification within Pelagodinium combining genetic, morphological, pigment, and behavioral data.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.279-290
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• 2018

Microalgae have been utilized in diverse industries including aquaculture. Among the microalgae, dinoflagellates are known to have various bioactive compounds, and thus the interest in their application to industry has increased. In order to test their potential as food materials for aquaculture animals, the crude protein contents and compositions of amino acids of six dinoflagellates Heterocapsa rotundata (family Heterocapsaceae), Ansanella granifera (Suessiaceae), Alexandrium andersonii (Ostreopsidaceae), Takayama tasmanica (Brachidiniaceae), Takayama helix, and Gymnodinium smaydae (Gymnodiniaceae) belonging to diverse families were analyzed. The percentage of the amount of the crude protein relative to dry weight of T. tasmanica was the highest (65%) and that of A. andersonii was the lowest (26%). However, the highest percentage of total detected amino acids in crude protein was found in A. andersonii (98.2%). In all six dinoflagellates, glutamic acid was the most dominant amino acid in crude protein. However, the second main amino acid was aspartic acid for H. rotundata, A. granifera, T. helix, and G. smaydae, but were arginine and leucine for A. andersonii and T. tasmanica, respectively. Furthermore, T. tasmanica and T. helix did not have taurine and gamma-aminobutyric acid, whereas the other dinoflagellates possessed them. The percentages of essential amino acid contents of the dinoflagellates met the requirement levels for juvenile shrimps. In addition, the dinoflagellates were not toxic to the brine shrimp Artemia salina. Compared with the other microalgae reported so far, H. rotundata and A. andersonii can be used for arginine-rich diets, T. tasmanica for valine and leucine-rich diets, A. granifera for histidine-rich diets, T. helix for threonine-rich diets, and G. smaydae for lysine-rich diets. Therefore, based on their biochemical composition and toxicity to Artemia, the dinoflagellates could be used as essential amino acid sources for cultivating animals in the aquaculture industry.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.127-140
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• 2019

The species in the dinoflagellate order Suessiales have 5-24 latitudinal paraplate series and include many fossil and extant species. There have been a few studies on the ecophysiology of the phototrophic species Biecheleriopsis adriatica, and no study on its predators. Thus, we explored the feeding occurrence by common heterotrophic protists on B. adriatica and the growth and ingestion rates of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina on B. adriatica BATY06 as a function of prey concentration. The common heterotrophic dinoflagellates Aduncodinium glandula, O. marina, Gyrodinium dominans, Gyrodinium moestrupii, Luciella masanensis, Pfiesteria piscicida, and Oblea rotunda and two naked ciliates Strombidinopsis sp. and Pelagostrobilidium sp. were able to feed on B. adriatica, but the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Polykrikos kofoidii was not. However, B. adriatica supported the positive growth of O. marina, but did not support that of G. dominans and O. rotunda. With increasing prey concentrations, the growth and ingestion rates of O. marina on B. adriatica increased and became saturated. The maximum growth rate of O. marina on B. adriatica was $0.162d^{-1}$. Furthermore, the maximum ingestion rate of O. marina on B. adriatica was $0.2ng\;C\;predator^{-1}\;d^{-1}$ ($2.0cells\;predator^{-1}\;d^{-1}$). In the order Suessiales, the feeding occurrence by common heterotrophic protists on B. adriatica is similar to that on Effrenium voratum and Biecheleria cincta, but different from that on Yihiella yeosuensis. However, the growth and ingestion rates of O. marina on B. adriatica are considerably lower than those on E. voratum and B. cincta, but higher than those on Y. yeosuensis. Therefore, B. adriatica may be less preferred prey for O. marina than E. voratum and B. cincta, but more preferred prey than Y. yeosuensis.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.45-59
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• 2020

To investigate the spatio-temporal distributions of the mixotrophic dinoflagellate Yihiella yeosuensis in Korean coastal waters and its grazing impact on prey populations, water samples were seasonally collected from 28 stations in the East, West, and South Seas of Korea and Jeju Island from April 2015 to October 2018. The abundances of Y. yeosuensis in the water samples were quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Simultaneously, the physical and chemical properties of water from all sampled stations were determined, and the abundances of the optimal prey species of Y. yeosuensis, the prasinophyte Pyramimonas sp. and the cryptophyte Teleaulax amphioxeia, were quantified using qPCR. Y. yeosuensis has a wide distribution, as is reflected by the detection of Y. yeosuensis cells at 23 sampling stations; however, this distribution has a strong seasonality, which is indicated by its detection at 22 stations in summer but only one station in winter. The abundance of Y. yeosuensis was significantly and positively correlated with those of Pyramimonas sp. and T. amphioxeia, as well as with water temperature. The highest abundance of Y. yeosuensis was 48.5 cells mL^-1 in Buan in July 2017, when the abundances of Pyramimonas sp. and T. amphioxeia were 917.6 and 210.4 cells mL^-1, respectively. The growth rate of Y. yeosuensis on Pyramimonas sp., calculated by interpolating the growth rates at the same abundance, was 0.49 d^-1, which is 37% of the maximum growth rate of Y. yeosuensis on Pyramimonas sp. obtained in the laboratory. Therefore, the field abundance of Pyramimonas sp. obtained in the present study can support a moderate positive growth of Y. yeosuensis. The maximum grazing coefficient for Y. yeosuensis on the co-occurring Pyramimonas sp. was 0.42 d^-1, indicating that 35% of the Pyramimonas sp. population were consumed in 1 d. Therefore, the spatio-temporal distribution of Y. yeosuensis in Korean coastal waters may be affected by those of the optimal prey species and water temperature. Moreover, Y. yeosuensis may potentially have considerable grazing impacts on populations of Pyramimonas sp.

• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.57-70
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• 2023

The mortality rate of red-tide dinoflagellates owing to predation is a major parameter that affects their population dynamics. The dinoflagellates Ansanella granifera and Ansanella sp. occasionally cause red tides. To understand the interactions between common heterotrophic protists and A. granifera, we explored the feeding occurrence of nine heterotrophic protists on A. granifera and the growth and ingestion rates of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Gyrodinium dominans on A. granifera as a function of prey concentration and those of Oxyrrhis marina at a single high prey concentration. The heterotrophic dinoflagellates Aduncodinium glandula, G. dominans, Gyrodinium moestrupii, Luciella masanensis, Oblea rotunda, O. marina, Polykrikos kofoidii, and Pfiesteria piscicida and the naked ciliate Strombidium sp. were able to feed on A. granifera. With increasing mean prey concentrations, the growth and ingestion rates of G. dominans feeding on A. granifera rapidly increased and became saturated or slowly increased. The maximum growth and ingestion rates of G. dominans on A. granifera were 0.305 d^-1 and 0.42 ng C predator^-1 d^-1 (3.8 cells predator^-1 d^-1), respectively. Furthermore, the growth and ingestion rates of O. marina on A. granifera at 1,700 ng C mL^-1 (15,454 cells mL^-1) were 0.037 d^-1 and 0.19 ng C predator^-1 d^-1 (1.7 cells predator^-1 d^-1), respectively. The growth and ingestion rates of G. dominans and O. marina feeding on A. granifera were almost the lowest among those on the dinoflagellate prey species. Therefore, G. dominans and O. marina may prefer A. granifera less than other dinoflagellate prey species. The low mortality rate of A. granifera may positively affect its bloom formation.