基于环境DNA技术的辽东湾真核微藻群落结构特征

以18S rDNA V4区作为目标基因,利用自行设计的真核微藻鉴定引物V4（F/R）,结合高通量测序技术,对辽东湾2014年四季海水中真核微藻多样性进行了检测。结果发现,辽东湾海域注释到种的真核微藻有136种,41%的种类在中国海域未见报道,其中自养型占60%、异养型占10%、混合营养型占30%。研究对丰富中国海域微藻名录和外来海洋微藻背景数据库具有较大意义。     

环境样本中微型和微微型浮游植物高通量测序的引物优化

分别以18Sr DNA的V4区和V9区为目标基因,采用高通量测序平台和生物信息学方法,分析海水样品中微型和微微型浮游植物多样性。利用在线分析软件对V4(F/R)、V9(F/R)和C4(F/R)3对引物的敏感性、特异性进行了评估和比较,发现自行设计的引物V4(F/R)对真核藻类的扩增特异性高于V9(F/R)和C4(F/R)。高通量测序结果显示,检测样品平均获得68834条原始序列,高质量数据占99%以上,获得基因注释的序列数达94%以上。3对引物V4(F/R)、V9(F/R)、C4(F/R)鉴定的平均微型/微微型浮游植物OTUs数分别为78、42、58,引物V4(F/R)鉴定效率相对较高,同时对细小微胞藻(Micromonas pusilla)、(金牛微球藻Ostreococcus tauri)、密球藻(Pycnococcus provasolii)、抑食金球藻(Aureococcus anophagefferens)、赤潮异弯藻(Heterosigma akashiwo)等优势种检出频率高于引物V9(F/R)。相对已发表的2对引物,设计的引物V4(F/R)对海洋微型和微微型藻类多样性检测更为高效。     

微微型藻华爆发海域硅酸盐与叶绿素a分布特征研究

以南戴河近岸海域为研究对象,分析了该海域2009年5~10月份硅酸盐和叶绿素a的时空分布特征,并初步探讨了它们与微微型藻华的关系。结果表明:整个调查期间该海域硅酸盐平均含量为0.67±0.31 mg·L^-1,叶绿素a平均含量为2.06±1.16 ug·L^-1;其平面分布呈现近岸高、远岸低的特点;硅酸盐平均含量9月最高、5月最低;叶绿素a平均含量在8~9月高、5~6月低;微微藻赤潮期间海域硅酸盐和叶绿素a平均含量明显高于未发生微微藻赤潮的2008年同期。叶绿素a与硅酸盐浓度呈现出正相关关系,在微微藻赤潮爆发期间尤为显著,可能是因为微微型浮游植物大量生长抑制了硅藻等消耗硅酸盐藻类的正常生长繁殖所致。     

青岛近海及其临近海域冬季微微型浮游植物的分布

微微型浮游植物（0.2～2.0 μm） 是海水中最小的自养浮游生物, 在世界各海域广泛分布, 并在海洋有机物质循环中起着非常重要的作用.利用荧光显微技术对青岛近海及其邻近海域冬季微微型浮游植物丰度进行了调查,研究了微微型浮游植物的空间变化和昼夜变化的特征, 并分析了微微型浮游植物丰度与环境因子的相关性. 结果显示, 冬季该海域以富含藻红素（Phycoerythrin-rich, PE）的聚球藻(Synechococcus, Syn)细胞占优势,微微型真核藻类（Picoeukaryote, Euk）次之,而富含藻蓝素（Phycocyanin-rich, PC）的聚球藻细胞数量很低, 未发现原绿球藻（Prochlorococcus, Pro）的存在.Syn 的变化范围为8.97×10³～1.95×10⁵ cells·ml^-1, 平均4.67×10⁴ cells·ml^-1; Euk的变化范围为1.95×10²～1.01×10⁴ cells·ml^-1, 平均2.39×10³ cells·ml^-1. Syn丰度在胶南以南海域出现高值区域, 在即墨海域和崂山东南海域出现低值区域. Euk丰度在日照海域出现高值区域; 崂山海域为低值区域; 各水层Syn和Euk丰度均无明显差异(P﹥0.05). 对胶州湾中部连续站4层水体的24 h昼夜连续变化进行观测发现, Syn、Euk丰度都有明显昼夜波动.相关性分析表明： Syn与温度、 电导率呈正相关, 与溶氧浓度呈显著负相关; Euk与盐度和溶氧浓度呈显著负相关. 微微型浮游植物对总浮游植物生物量的贡献约为20％.     

秦皇岛海域微微型藻华期间叶绿素a分级研究

2011年6月秦皇岛北戴河海域暴发微微型浮游植物赤潮,对北戴河海域进行了3次海域调查,探讨和分析了秦皇岛海域赤潮暴发期间的6月和非赤潮期间的7、8月表层浮游植物的粒级结构分布特征,并对环境因子进行了相关影响分析.赤潮期间整个调查海域范围内叶绿素a(Chl.a)平均含量为10.85±5.13μg/L,非赤潮期间7月、8月Chl.a的平均含量为5.50±3.60μg/L.赤潮期间和非赤潮期间各粒级浮游植物Chl.a含量对Chl.a总量的贡献率有所差异,赤潮期间6月小型(Microphytoplankton,>20μm)、微型(Nanophytoplankton,2～20μm)和微微型(Picophytoplankton,0.74～2μm)浮游植物对总Chl.a的贡献率分别为2.1%、48.3%和49.6%.非赤潮期间7月小型、微型、微微型对总Chl.a的贡献率分别为14.4%、51.6%、24.0%.通过浮游植物粒径分级Chl.a和环境因子的相关性分析,发现在赤潮期间调查海域浮游植物Chl.a与硝酸盐的相关性系数随着浮游植物粒径的增大而从负逐渐变正.发现在非赤潮区微型和微微型浮游植物与OD显著正相关(p<0.01).     

2012年夏季挪威海和格陵兰海浮游植物群落结构的色素表征

对2012年中国第5次北极科学考察期间的挪威海和格陵兰海两个断面的光合色素进行了高效液相色谱（HPLC）分级分析,通过藻类色素化学分类分析软件（CHEMTAX）获得了不同浮游植物类群对叶绿素a的贡献,进而得到该海域表层和次表层（30 m）的浮游植物群落结构。结果表明：表层总叶绿素a的浓度为23.59 ng/L,低于次表层的30.38 ng/L,其中浮游植物根据粒径划分对总叶绿素a的贡献由高到低依次是微型浮游植物、小型浮游植物和微微型浮游植物。该海域同时存在葱绿叶绿素（Prasino）、墨角藻黄素（Fuco）、别藻黄素（Allo）、多甲藻素（Perid）、玉米黄素（Zea）、19-丁墨甲藻黄素（19’BF）和19-六已墨甲藻黄素（19’HF）等色素,其浓度和分布与温盐和营养盐等环境因子存在一定的相关性。不同粒径浮游植物色素组成显示,微微型浮游植物群落中以S型定鞭藻（28%）、N型定鞭藻（21%）、硅藻（18%）和青绿藻（12%）占优;微型浮游植物群落的优势类群为S型定鞭藻（53%）、N型定鞭藻（20%）和硅藻（12%）;而小型浮游植物群落主要为硅藻（63%）和甲藻（17%）。     

核糖体小亚基V4和V9区引物扩增大亚湾真核浮游生物的比较研究

对大亚湾水体的环境DNA分别进行18S rDNA的V4和V9区的引物扩增,通过高通量测序技术进行测序,并比较分析二者浮游真核生物基因多样性和相对丰度。18S rDNA V4区引物扩增共检测出浮游动物56纲, 101目,浮游植物52纲, 69目; 18S rDNA V9区引物扩增共检测出浮游动物47纲, 81目,浮游植物56纲, 101目。两对引物对浮游真核生物扩增都具有较高覆盖度,在纲级别上二者的结果相近:颚足纲(Maxillopoda)是浮游动物优势类群;甲藻纲(Dinophyceae)、圆筛藻纲(Coscinodiscophyceae)、小豆藻纲(Mamiellophyceae)是浮游植物优势类群,其中甲藻纲多样性与丰度的结果相近,而18S rDNA V9区引物扩增得到的圆筛藻纲丰度高于18S rDNA V4区引物。分析结果表明, 18S rDNAV4区引物扩增的浮游动物多样性比18SrDNAV9区引物高,而18SrDNAV9区引物扩增的浮游植物多样性比18S rDNA V4区引物高。同时,通过高通量测序技术首次确定大亚湾海区大量存在着寄生型甲藻(Syndiniales),小豆藻目...     

盐湖微微型浮游植物多样性研究进展

盐湖在地球表层分布较广,中国是世界上盐湖分布稠密的国家。尽管盐湖生态环境极端恶劣,但它们依然是陆地特别是高原生态系统中十分重要的组成部分。微微型浮游植物(Picophytoplankton)通常是指粒径在0.2—3μm之间的光合自养型浮游生物,在这一生态类群中既有原核生物也有真核生物。微微型浮游植物不仅是海洋生态系统中生物量和生产力的最重要贡献者,也是盐湖生态系统最重要的组成部分。最近的调查数据显示,在东非Bogoria和Nakuru苏打盐湖中微微型浮游植物的生产力占整个浮游植物生产力的53%—68%。迄今为止,对盐湖微微型浮游植物多样性的研究多集中于盐田(Solar salterns)、盐池(Saline ponds)以及碱湖(Soda lakes)等超盐水体中;超盐盐湖中最常见的微微型浮游植物主要是蓝细菌(Cyanobacteria)类群,包括席蓝细菌属(Phormidium)、节旋藻属(Arthrospira)和隐杆藻属(Aphanothece)。分子生物学的研究显示,低碱浅水盐湖中微微型浮游植物具有丰富的多样性,主要类群是微微型原核浮游植物,还有部分种类与真核藻类质体序列高度相似。盐湖生态系统中微微型浮游植物群落结构演替变化的研究已经逐渐引起更多研究者的关注。已有的研究资料显示,水体矿化度是影响微微型浮游植物平面分布及群落结构组成的重要因子;光照、营养成分和温度等也会影响盐湖水体中微微型浮游植物平面分布及群落结构组成。综述了国内外对不同类型盐湖生态系统中微微型浮游植物多样性研究的概况,探讨了不同地理区域各种盐湖中微微型浮游植物群落结构的演替变化,并就我国未来加强盐湖中微微型浮游植物多样性构成、分布与变动及驱动变化的因子等研究提出了建议。     

我国微型硅藻类的新记录属——微壳藻属

微型硅藻是海洋浮游植物的重要组成类群, 由于其个体微小, 在以往的研究中大多被忽略了。本文利用透射电镜(TEM)对若干采自我国沿海海域的样品进行观察, 经鉴定, 确认一个我国微型硅藻类的新记录属--微壳藻属Nanofrustulum Round, Hallsteinsen &; Paasche 1999。对该属及该属一个新记录种的主要形态学特征进行了描述, 提供了透射电镜下的照片, 并对相似属种进行了形态学比较研究。     

珠江口超微型浮游植物时空分布及其与环境因子的关系

对珠江口及近海区域进行了夏季和冬季超微型浮游植物(0.2-3μm)调查,分析了其时空分布及其与环境因子的关系.夏季,珠江口浮游植物密度与磷酸盐成显著正相关,且N/P远远高于30,表明浮游植物受到P限制.夏季超微型藻数量比冬季高一个数量级,其丰度与盐度成显著正相关而和营养盐(溶解性无机氮(DIN),PO4-P,SiO4-Si)显著负相关,表明珠江口超微型藻受到径流的负面影响,表现出其数量在虎门附近海域低,随着咸淡水混合程度的加剧逐渐增大的分布特征;超微型浮游植物叶绿素a在总叶绿素a中的比例也表现为河口上游低,到万山群岛附近海域达到最大,推测近海高光照、低营养盐更适宜超微型藻的生长,同时也说明超微型浮游植物适应贫营养环境的生态特点.     

Seasonal distribution of species of the toxic dinoflagellate genus Dinophysis in Maizuru Bay (Japan), with comments on their autofluorescence and attachment of picophytoplankton

The seasonal distribution of the dinoflagellate genus, Dinophysis, in Maizuru Bay, Japan, was investigated from May 1997 to December 1999. Seven species of Dinophysis were detected, including the toxic species of Dinophysis acuminata and D. fortii. The most dominant species wasD. acuminata, detected year-around and more abundantly during periods when water temperatures were between 15 and 18 °C. No relationship was found between cell abundance of Dinophysis spp. and concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients. Phycoerythrin containing nano- and picophytoplankton (cryptophytes and cyanobacteria), suspected to be prey of mixotrophic Dinophysis, were enumerated simultaneously. A clear relationship was not found among the cell abundances of Dinophysis spp. and nano- and picophytoplankton. Autofluorescence of Dinophysis spp. (mainly D. acuminata and D. fortii) under blue-light excitation was usually of a yellow-orange color. Occasionally, Dinophysis spp. had red autofluorescencing and yellow-orange autofluorescencing particles. The proportion of cells possessing red autofluorescence tended to be higher in the warm season. Numerous coccoid cells of picophytoplankton (ca. 1–2 μm in diameter) were found attached to the cell surface of D. acuminata, D. fortii, etc. and food vacuole-like structures also observed. These observations suggest there is a close relationship between mixotrophic Dinophysis spp. and certain picophytoplankton. Based on our observations, the possibility that the picophytoplankton found to be attached onto Dinophysis cell surfaces are a food source for Dinophysis, and a source of DSP toxins, is discussed.     

Relationships between dynamics of red tide-causing raphidophycean flagellates and algicidal micro-organisms in the coastal sea of Japan

Temporal fluctuations of algicidal micro-organisms against the red tide causing raphidophycean flagellates Chattonella antiqua (Hada) Ono and Heterosigma akashiwo (Hada) Hada ex Hara et Chihara were investigated using the microplate most probable number (MPN) method in northern Hiroshima Bay and Harima-Nada, the Seto Inland Sea, in 1992 and 1993. In Har-ima-Nada, both flagellates appeared at low levels (< 1 cell mL^?1), and killer micro-organisms against the two flagellates (C-killer for C. antiqua and H-killer for H. akashiwo) also appeared at low densities (< 2 mL^?1). In northern Hiroshima Bay, C. antiqua cells were scarce (< 1 cell mL^?1), and C-killers occurred at a low level (≤ 3.4 mL^?1). Conversely, red tides of H. akashiwo occurred there in June of both years. The dynamics of H-killers revealed a close relationship with that of H. akashiwo populations. H-killers followed the increase of H. akashiwo cells, reached a maximum level after the beginning of decline of H. akashiwo, maintained a high level for at least 1 week after the crash of bloom, and then decreased. C-killers consistently remained at low densities during the period of H. akashiwo red tides in both 1992 and 1993. Hence, algicidal micro-organisms specifically associated with the occurrence and crash of H. akashiwo red tides, and presumably contributed to the rapid termination of the red tides in the coastal seas such as northern Hiroshima Bay.     

Heterosigma akashiwo in central California waters

Heterosigma akashiwo (Hada) gives rise to red tides along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and is known to produce brevetoxins. This investigation establishes baseline information showing the presence of H. akashiwo along the central California coast based on water samples collected from the Santa Cruz pier in Monterey Bay (on the open coast) and the Berkeley pier in San Francisco Bay. Light and electron microscopy as well as two species-specific DNA probe methods based on cell homogenates preparations were employed to detect H. akashiwo during the 2001–2002 field study. The DNA probe methods consisted of a sandwich hybridization assay (SHA), which targets ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and an end-point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, which targets internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of rRNA genes. The SHA was used to provide semi-quantitative data showing the intermittent presence of the species during a 13-month period in Monterey Bay. Samples that showed a variety of responses in the SHA (negative as well as the highest) were then subjected to the PCR assay in an attempt to confirm species identification using an independent DNA probe method that employs cell homogenates; samples included those from Monterey Bay and one from a red tide event in San Francisco Bay. SHA and PCR assays agreed on the presence or absence of H. akashiwo. Gene products from two field samples positive for H. akashiwo by PCR were cloned and sequenced and found to be identical to those of that species in GenBank. When the same samples were viewed by light microscopy, however, H. akashiwo cells were only seen in the sample with the highest abundance of that species, as evidenced by SHA. It was extremely difficult to recognize naturally occurring H. akashiwo using light microscopy in field samples that had been preserved with Lugol's iodine, including samples that gave positive results by cell homogenate methods. Results of this study indicate that H. akashiwo is present along the open California coast and could easily be missed in routine phytoplankton surveys. Despite its presence, H. akashiwo does not appear to routinely bloom with sufficient densities to cause harmful outbreaks of the frequency and severity documented in some other coastal environments. Molecular identification techniques may be the preferred approach over light microscopy when there is a need to rapidly screen many samples for fragile, harmful species and those that are otherwise problematic to identify based on their gross morphology alone.     

A novel Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae) bloom extending from a South Carolina bay to offshore waters

In April 2003, a novel Heterosigma akashiwo bloom was observed that extended from Bulls Bay, South Carolina USA, to approximately 8 km offshore. The bloom was associated with a fish kill of approximately 10⁴ fish. The bloom coincided with salinities anomalously low for the region and optimal for H. akashiwo growth. The low salinities were related to the rediversion of freshwater a month earlier from the Cooper River into the Santee River, which partially feeds into Bulls Bay. H. akashiwo identification was confirmed using a species-specific real-time PCR assay modified for the direct amplification of target DNA from the bloom sample. Because this H. akashiwo bloom was associated with a fish kill, and exposure to bloom waters caused sublethal toxic effects on oysters, the resolution of the cause and potential recurrence of the bloom are of importance to fishery management.     

Allelopathic effects of Ulva pertusa , Corallina pilulifera and Sargassum thunbergii on the growth of the dinoflagellates Heterosigma akashiwo and Alexandrium tamarense

The allelopathic effects of fresh tissue, dry powder and aqueous extracts of three macroalgae, Ulva pertusa, Corallina pilulifera and Sargassum thunbergii, on the growth of the dinoflagellates Heterosigma akashiwo and Alexandrium tamarense were evaluated using coexistence culture systems in which concentrations of the three macroalga were varied. The results of the coexistence assay showed that the growth of the two microalgae was strongly inhibited by using fresh tissue, dry powder and aqueous extracts of the three macroalga; the allelochemicals were lethal to H. akashiwo at relatively higher concentrations of the three macroalga. The macroalgae showing the most allelopathic effect on H. akashiwo and A. tamarense using fresh tissue were U. pertusa and S. thunbergii, using dry powder were S. thunbergii and U. pertusa, and using aqueous extracts were U. pertusa and C. pilulifera. We also examined the potential allelopathic effect on the two microalgae of culture filtrate of the three macroalga; culture medium filtrate initially exhibited no inhibitory effects when first added but inhibitory effects became apparent under semi-continuous addition, which suggested that continuous release of small quantities of rapidly degradable allelochemicals from the fresh macroalgal tissue were essential to effectively inhibit the growth of the two microalgae.     

Alga-lytic activity of Pseudomonas fluorescens against the red tide causing marine alga Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae)

A bacterial strain, HAK-13, exhibited strongest activity against Heterosigma akashiwo and was capable of controlling this bloom forming phytoplankton. Based on 16S rDNA sequences and biochemical and morphological characteristics, the strain HAK-13 was determined to be Pseudomonas fluorescens on the basis of 99.9% similarity with reference strains in the DNA databases. The growth of H. akashiwo was strongly suppressed by HAK-13 in all growth phases, with the strongest alga-lytic activity noted against harmful bloom-forming species in the exponential stage (6–22 days). Host range tests showed that HAK-13 also significantly inhibited the growth of Alexandrium tamarense and Cochlodinium polykrikoides but could not destroy Gymnodinium catenatum. P. fluorescens HAK-13 indirectly attacked H. akashiwo by alga-lytic substances that might be located at the compartment of cytoplasmic membrane of the bacterium at a level of 45.86 units/mg of specific activity. The results indicated that P. fluorescens HAK-13 caused cell lysis and death of H. akashiwo, A. tamarense, and C. polykrikoides dramatically and Prorocentrum dentatum slightly. Therefore, P. fluorescens HAK-13 has potential for use as a selective biocontrol of harmful algal blooms.     

长山群岛海域真核微藻粒级结构及扇贝摄食选择性

采用高通量测序-分子鉴定分级技术于2019年对长山群岛全海域真核微藻粒级结构进行了研究。结果发现,春季以中（47%）、小粒级（41%）为主,夏季以小（39%）、大粒级（38%）为主,秋季以大粒级（60%）为主,春、夏、秋季小、中、大粒级微藻比例为42：47：11、39：23：38、22：18：60。小粒级微藻优势种为细小微胞藻（Micromonas pusilla）、融合微胞藻（Micromonas commoda）和金牛微球藻（Ostreococcus tauri）,中粒级微藻优势种为剧毒卡尔藻（Karlodinium veneficum）、大粒级微藻优势种为柔弱几内亚藻（Guinardia delicatula）、平野亚历山大藻（Alexandrium hiranoi）、多纹膝沟藻（Gonyaulax polygramma）,综合整个真核微藻群落,春季由中粒径的剧毒卡尔藻占据优势（23.9%）,夏季由大粒径的平野亚历山大藻占据优势（29.4%）,秋季由大粒径的多纹膝沟藻占据优势（66.8%）,有毒甲藻在该海域中占有绝对优势,贝毒累积风险较高,小粒径微藻中金牛微球藻和抑食金球藻曾在渤海引发褐潮,潜在威胁该海域贝类养殖业。虾夷扇贝对小粒级和大粒级微藻的选择性较低,对中粒级微藻的选择性较高,尤其对水体中优势种剧毒卡尔藻一直表现出主动选择。光学需氧量、无机氮、溶解氧、石油类及部分重金属Cd、As、Hg影响着整个长山群岛海域真核微藻粒级结构时空演变。     

Some Dinophycean Red Tide Plankton Species Generate a Superoxide Scavenging Substance

Recent studies indicate that some raphidophycean red tide flagellates produce substances able to scavenge superoxide, whereas there have been no reports on superoxide scavenger production by dinophycean red tide flagellates. In this study, we examined the superoxide-scavenging activity of aqueous extracts from dinophycean red tide flagellates, Gymnodinium spp., Scrippsiella trochoidea, and Karenia sp., by a luminol analog L-012-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) method and an electron spin resonance (ESR)-spin trapping method, and compared the activity to that of raphidophycean red tide flagellates, Chattonella spp., Heterosigma akashiwo, and Fibrocapsa japonica. In the experiment applying the L-012-dependent CL method, only the aqueous extracts from raphidophycean red tide flagellates showed superoxide-scavenging activity. On the other hand, applying the ESR-spin trapping method, we found that the aqueous extracts from dinophycean red tide flagellates also showed superoxide-scavenging activity. This is the first report on the production of a superoxide-scavenger by dinophycean red tide flagellates.     

Pico- and nanoplankton dynamics during bloom initiation of Aureococcus in a Long Island, NY bay

The entire microbial plankton community was quantified on a weekly basis April through June of 2000 in Quantuck Bay as part of an ongoing study to identify factors contributing to the initiation of blooms of Aureococcus anophagefferens (brown tide) in Long Island, NY bays. We used flow cytometry, imaging cytometry, fluorescent antibody cell counts, and traditional visual cell counting to quantify the picophytoplankton, heterotrophic bacteria, nanophytoplankton, heterotrophic protists, and microplankton prior to, and during the initiation of a brown tide bloom. Cells passing through a 5 μm mesh dominated the total chlorophyll concentration (>80%) for most of the spring study period. The A. anophagefferens bloom occurred in the context of a larger pico/nanophytoplankton bloom where A. anophagefferens accounted for only 30% of the total cell count when it was at its maximum concentration of 4.8 × 10⁵ mL⁻¹. Levels of dissolved organic nitrogen were enriched during the bloom peak relative to pre-bloom levels and heterotrophic bacteria also bloomed, reaching abundances over 10⁷ mL⁻¹. A trophic cascade within the heterotrophic protist community may have occurred, coinciding with the A. anophagefferens bloom. Before the onset of the bloom, larger grazers increased in abundance, while the next smaller trophic level of grazers were diminished. These smaller grazers were the likely water column predators of A. anophagefferens, and the brown tide bloom initiated when they were depleted. These results suggest that this bloom initiated due to interactions with other pico/nano algae and release from grazing pressure through a trophic cascade.     

Interactions between red tide microalgae and herbivorous zooplankton: effects of two bloom-forming species on the rotifer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus plicatilis</Emphasis> (O.F. Muller)

Experiments were carried out to investigate interspecific interactions between the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and two harmful algal bloom (HAB) species using single and mixed culture methods. B. plicatilis populations and the growth of two algae were compared at different algal cell densities. The results demonstrate that B. plicatilis obtained sufficient nutrition from Alexandrium tamarense to support net population increase. When exposed to a density of 8 × 10⁴ cells ml⁻¹ A. tamarense, the number of B. plicatilis increased faster than it did when exposed to other four algal densities (16 × 10⁴, 24 × 10⁴, 32 × 10⁴, and 40 × 10⁴ cells ml⁻¹). Cell densities of A. tamarense decreased due to the grazing of B. plicatilis. In contrast, Heterosigma akashiwo had an adverse effect on the B. plicatilis population and its growth was largely unaffected by rotifer grazing. In this case, the B. plicatilis population decreased and H. akashiwo grew at a rate similar to that of a control without addition of rotifers. Mixed culture experiments showed that A. tamarense could partly counteract the effect of H. akashiwo in limiting the rate of population increase of rotifer. In addition, the effect of different initial cell densities on interspecific competition between A. tamarense and H. akashiwo in mixed culture(s) was also investigated. The results show that A. tamarense competed very successfully when the inoculation proportions of A. tamarense and H. akashiwo were 40:5 and 40:30. Handling editor: D. Hamilton