Autoecology and some life history stages of Dinophysis acuta Ehrenberg

A persistent and unusual bloom of Dinophysic acuta Ehrenbergin the RIas Bajas (Northwest Spain) from early July to mid-November1989, was associated with a diarshetic shellfish poisoning (DSP)outbreak that prevented mussel extraction in some areas fromearly August to mid-December. Integrated samples (0–5,5–10 and 10–15 m) were taken once or twice a weekat six stations. Maximum numbers of D.acuta (up to 2.3 10⁴intheintegratedsamples)andpercentageofobserveddMdingcells(upto3l%),appearedin August, and formed a maximum in the thermodine. Cellnumbers were minimal when upwelling caused a breakdown of stratification.Fligh numbers of D.acuta (up to 1.8 10⁴ cells 1^–1 appearedagain when persistent south winds in late October caused a reversalof the circulation. Thus, the two cell maxima occurred duringtwo distinct hydrographic regimes, but in both cases at temperaturesof 15–17C. Numerous cells with one typical D.acuta valve,but the other valve reduced in size, were seen during the bloom,as well as Dinophysts dens Pavillard cells that might be a lifecycle stage of D.acuta. Other observations include double- walled,unwinged forms that are perhaps some kind of cyst, and a hypothetical‘fertilizing tube’ emerging from the larger cellof a D.acuta/D.dens couplet. It is suggested that the maximaduring stratification and during downwelling episodes couldcorrespond to periods with a predominance of in situ growthand physical accumulation, respectively, and that the exceptionalmeteorological conditions during 1989 provided the optimum scenariofor the unusual occurrence of D.acuta.