• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.15-19
• /
• 2009

Early studies claimed that heterotrophic dinoflagellates Pfiesteria piscicida and related genera may produce a putative water-soluble toxin that causes death of fish and other marine animals. Several methods were tested to visualize plate morphology of Cryptoperidiniopsis brodyi and Pfiesteria piscicida. Cellulose plates of cells were exposed and visualized- by a membrane stripping method using Triton X-100. While calcofluor M2R white stain could readily bind to the thecal plates, details of the plate tabulation were difficult to observe. Fixation with osmium tetroxide $(OsO_4)$ produced well preserved cells with little morphological distortion, but thecal plates could not be visualized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation using the membrane stripping method showed distinctive plate tabulations between C. brodyi and P. piscicida suggesting that this method is a useful tool for morphological identification of lightly armored dinoflagellates.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.299-304
• /
• 2005

Morphological observation of a unialgal culture of Lingulodinium polyedrum was conducted under light- and scanning electron microscopes. Lingulodinium polyedrum was redefined as having the thecal formula of APC, Q, 5', 6", 6c, 6s, 5'", 2"" using the reinterpreted tabulation system. In our tabulation system, the Q, which is equivalent to the 3' in the strict Kofoidean system, was treated as an auxiliary platelet because of its considerable morphological variations in culture specimens. Subsequently, apical plates were redefined as plates directly connected to the APC and/or the Q. The 1"' and the 1p in the conventional Kofoidean system were treated as a component of the sulcus (the Ssa) and as an antapical plate (the 1""), respectively. Our reinterpreted tabulation system clearly differentiated extant gonyaulacalean taxa.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.115-118
• /
• 2008

Cells of the dinoflagellate Peridinium were frequently observed in water samples of Togyo reservoir, and some species were responsible for dense blooms. Recently, we could identify them as P. bipes f. occultatum Lindem. and P. aciculiferum Lemm., considering morphology (Ki et al. 2005a; Ki and Han 2005b): However, some unidentified Peridinium cells with different shapes and body sizes were found among the samples collected during early spring. Here we describe their morphological characteristics such as thecal plate and body size to characterize its taxonomic identity by morphological characters. The formula of epithecal plates was recorded as 4 apical, 2 intercalary and 7 precingular plates (i.e. 4’', 2a, 7’'’') and the epicone in an apical view was symmetric. An apical pore was easy to make out under a light microscope. No cingular displacement was observed. The average body size was 33 $\mu$m in length with a range of 26-36 $\mu$m, and average 26 $\mu$m in width with a range of 21-31 $\mu$m, respectively; the cell was, therefore, shown slightly elongated. This way we identified Peridinium umbonatum Stein, 1883 for the first time from Korean freshwaters.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
• /
• 2009.05a
• /
• pp.845-847
• /
• 2009

In thecate dinoflagellates, the thecal plate pattern has been considered to be important criteria in their classifications. Due to this fact the shape of the theca and the arrangement of the theca were studied. In the pictures, the distinctions between the plates in the cells were so vague that I drew a diagram to illustrate the plate pattern. To identify the genus Protoperidinium, the shape of the first apical plate and the second anterior intercalary plate were used. Depending the shape of first apical plate, will be designated as meta(4), meta(5), para(4), para(5) or para(6). The shape of first apical plate is considered an important factor. From this point of view, the genus Protoperidinium as a group of planktonic protist in the coastal environment was classified.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.317-325
• /
• 2011

Five benthic species of the genus Gambierdiscus (Dinophyceae) were observed for the first time in the coastal waters of Pakistan, Northern Indian Ocean. The morphology of the epiphytic, ciguatera-related toxic species G. toxicus, G. belizeanus, G. polynesiensis, G. australes and G. cf. yasumotoi are presented here, described by the Kofoid system of thecal plates Po, 3', 7", 6c, 8s, 5"', 1p, 2"" with differences in cell shape, cell size, plates, pores around the apical pore plate by using light and scanning electron microscopy. The occurrence of these potentially toxic dinoflagellate species in Pakistani coastal areas of Manora Channel and Balochistan during high temperatures of 28-$32^{\circ}C$ is cause of concern for human health impacts from ciguatera fish poisoning.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2002

Twenty-nine culture strains belonging to the genus Alexandrium Halim (Dinophyceae) were established from water column or sediments in Korea. Seventeen isolates were identified as A. tamarense (Lebour) Balech, eight isolates as A. sp. cf. catenella and one as A. catenella (Whedon et Kofoid) Balech according to the presence or absence of a ventral pore, the shape of the posterior sulcal plate and the sulcal width. Three isolates were unable to be identified due to considerable distortion of thecal plates and lack of enough materials, but typical of A. tamarense and/or A. catenella. The overall cell shape of A. tamarense was usually longer than wide. The posterior sulcal plate was definitely longer than wide dorsoventrally, and sulcus extended posteriorly without apparent widening. They were distributed in three major coasts of Korea. In contrast, the cell shape of A. sp.cf. catenella was generally anterior-posteriorly flattened. The transversal axis of the posterior sulcal plate was always longer than the longitudinal, or both axes were nearly equal in length. Its sulcus was broader than that of A. tamarense and widened in the direction of antapex about 1.5 times. This morphotype existed in nearshore and offshore waters of the southern Korea sea. One of A. catenella isolates from Jinhae Bay showed no conspicuous differences with A. sp. cf. catenella except for the consistent absence of a ventral pore.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.38 no.spc
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2005

To resolve some of the most pressing uncertainties of Peridinium identity, morphological characteristics of Korean Peridinium were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. The Peridinium samples were collected from three different regions of Juam, Sang-sa and Togyo Reservoirs, when seasonal blooms occurred. Formula of the epithecal plate was recorded with 7 precingular, 3 intercalary, and 4 apical plates (4', 3a, 7"). An apical pore, 3 ${\sim}$ 5 ${\mu}m$ in size, was apparently present. The cingulum was easily observed under light microscope, and was considerably offset by about 15 ${\mu}m$ (2 ${\sim}$ 3 times per cingulum width). The sulcus was straight longitudinally and widened apparently towards the antapex. None of spine was found on the surface of the thecal plates on scanning electron micrographs. The average body length was 50.4 ${\mu}m$ with a range of 29 ${\sim}$ 63 ${\mu}m$. The geometric dimension, as designated to the body length:width ratio, was found from calculation to be 1.12 with a range of 1.00 ${\sim}$ 1.35, therefore, the cell was shown slightly elongated. Based on their morphology, the causative organisms of red tides in three different Korean waters were identified as P. bipes f. occultatum, which was reported for the first time in Korea.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.26-32
• /
• 2000

Monospecific red tide by a toxic dinoflagellate belonging to the genus Alexandrium occurred at Chindong Bay in the southern coast of Korea and continued from April 6th to 15th in 1997. The ratio of its cell number to total phytoplankton cell number was much higher than $95\%$. This organism was identified as Alexandrium tamarense, although slight morphological differences were found comparing to the original and successive descriptions of the species. We found neither anterior nor posterior attachment pores in these cells of the bloom population. The occurrence of red tide caused by A. tamarense was first reported in Korea. Its plate formula is Po, Pc, 4', 6"c, 8s, 5"' and 2"". Thecal plates are thin with pore-like ornamentation. In those plates, the anterior part of the first apical plate (1') is narrower and its posterior end has sometimes a block-like accessory, but this variation was considered within the range of the morphological variability of this taxon. The cell density during the red tide exhibited a wide range of variation by the depth of water column, ranging from $2\times10^6$ cells$l^{-1}$ to $5\times10^6$ cells·$l^{-1}$. Water temperature varied from 11.8 to $12.3^{\circ}C$. Toxicity of A. tamarense during red tide was measured as $8.8\times10^5$. $MU\;\cdot\;cell^{-1}$ by mouse bioassay.