Effects of temperature, salinity and irradiance on the growth of the toxic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum (Dinophyceae) isolated from Hiroshima Bay, Japan

ABSTRACT: Temperature and salinity ranges in which Gymnodinium catenatum (Hiroshima Bay strain) showed specific growth rates higher than 0.2/day were approximately 20–30°C and 20–32. The specific growth rate (μ), expressed as a polynomial equation as functions of temperature ( T ; °C) and salinity ( S ) were μ = (−6.84 × 10⁻⁴ T ² + 0.0354 T – 0.213) × (−1.03 × 10⁻³ S ² + 0.0579 S – 0.548)/0.31; the maximum growth rate (0.31/day) was obtained at 25°C and 30. From a comparison with field data recording temperature, salinity and light intensity, this species may be expected to bloom from summer to autumn in Hiroshima Bay.     

Utilization of dissolved organic phosphorus by the two toxic dinoflagellates, Alexandrium tamarense and Gymnodinium catenatum (Dinophyceae)

ABSTRACT: The utilization of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) by the two toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense (Lebour) Balech and Gymnodinium catenatum Grahamm which were isolated from Hiroshima Bay, Japan, was studied. Alexandrium tamarense grew poorly on fructose-6-phophate, glucose-1-phosphate, glycerophosphate, and ribose-5-phosphate with a phosphomonoester bond, although it grew well on the nucleotides adenosine-5-diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as well as on dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP; as metaphosphate, pyrophosphate, tripolyposphate and orthophosphate). The results imply that A. tamarense was able to utilize DOP and DIP from ambient water using nucleotidase, pyrophosphatase and poly-phosphatase, which hydrolyze phosphodiesters. In contrast, G. catenatum was able to utilize DOP compounds of various molecular weights and structures as well as DIP. In time-course experiments, alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) was induced at orthophosphate concentrations of 0.43 mmol/L and 3.3 mmol/L for A. tamarense and G. catenatum , respectively, and APA increased with orthophosphate depletion. The experiments also demonstrated that APA was maximum at the optimum temperatures for the growth of A. tamarense and G. catenatum ; that is, 15°C and 25°C, respectively. These results suggest that the DIP-depleted conditions in Hiroshima Bay might have led to the outbreaks of noxious dinoflagellates in recent years.     

Development and application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method for simple and rapid identification of the toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense and Alexandrium catenella in cultured and natural seawater

ABSTRACT:   The toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense (Lebour) Balech and A. catenella (Whedon and Kofoid) Balech produce potent neurotoxins, such as saxitoxin and gonyautoxin and have been mainly responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in Japan. To prevent a negative effect on the fishery industry, it is necessary to identify these toxic species precisely and rapidly before and during the bloom. In this paper, a rapid and simple protocol of a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method using ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-targeted probes has been established for identifying the cultured strains and natural cells of A. tamarense and A. catenella . Using the FISH method established in this study, it was possible to identify these toxic species species-specifically and rapidly, within 30 min. The procedure of detection constituted three steps: (i) fixation/dehydration; (ii) hybridization; and (iii) washing; this made the identification simple. Moreover, this method did not require either special techniques or equipment, and the cost for detection was low. The specificity, rapidity, and simplicity of the developed method suggest that it might be useful for routine monitoring of these toxic microalgae.     

Distribution and abundance of resting cysts of the toxic Alexandrium spp. (Dinophyceae) in sediments of the western Seto Inland Sea, Japan

Sediment samples were collected from 135 stations in the western part of the Seto Inland Sea (Iyo Nada, Suo Nada, Beppu Bay, Tokuyama Bay, Hiroshima Bay, Aki Nada, Hiuchi Nada and Bingo Nada) to determine the horizontal distribution and abundance of resting cysts of Alexandrium spp. ( A. tamarense  +  A. catenella ). Enumeration of the cysts was performed using the primuline-staining direct count method. Cysts of Alexandrium spp. were rarely found in Iyo Nada, Suo Nada and Beppu Bay, but were widely distributed in Tokuyama Bay, Hiroshima Bay, Aki Nada, Hiuchi Nada and Bingo Nada. Cyst concentrations ranged from not detected (ND) to 14, ND to 17, ND to 4, 93 to 8137, 8 to 4454, ND to 6, ND to 18 and 4–29 cysts/cm³ wet sediment in Iyo Nada, Suo Nada, Beppu Bay, Tokuyama Bay, Hiroshima Bay, Aki Nada, Hiuchi Nada and Bingo Nada, respectively. The majority of cysts occurred in Tokuyama Bay and Hiroshima Bay, where higher densities were observed in the inner bay and along the coastal margin. Relatively higher cyst concentrations were observed at stations with a higher mud content. The abundance of Alexandrium spp. cysts in western Seto Inland Sea is lower than in the eastern Seto Inland Sea, except for Tokuyama Bay and Hiroshima Bay. However, because sporadic blooms of Alexandrium have been observed, continuing monitoring is necessary to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning outbreaks in this area.