Dinoflagellate cyst production at a coastal Mediterranean site |
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Authors: | Montresor M; Zingone A; Sarno D |
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Institution: | Stazione Zoologica A. Dohrn, Villa Comunale 80121 Napoli, Italy |
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Abstract: | To assess the diversity and seasonality of dinoflagellate cystproduction, surface sediment and trap samples were studied inthe Gulf of Naples (Mediterranean Sea). A total of 59 differentcyst morphotypes were recorded. At the stations within the 70m isobath, sediment assemblages were dominated by calcareousPeridiniales (6679%), while at the deepest stations non-calcareousPeri-diniales attained the highest percentages (4049%).The sediment trap sampling, carried out fortnightly over twoannual cycles, revealed high production rates (up to 1.7 x 106cysts m2 day1) from spring to late autumn of bothyears, with a distinct seasonal production pattern. Althoughrather similar in species composition, the total cyst flux differedmarkedly between the 2 years (1.26 and 0.55 x 108 cysts m2year1, respectively). Species-specific production patternswere observed: some species formed cysts over several months,others in restricted periods of the year. Cyst-forming speciesconstituted a small part of the planktonic dinoflagellate populationsrecorded in the area. A coupling between the trap material andsurface water plankton was observed for calcareous Peridiniales.This sampling approach allowed the detection of some speciesnever recorded before in the gulf, including two potentiallytoxic species: Alexandrium andersoni and Gymnodinium catenatum-likespecies. |
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