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Characterization of P rorocentrum elegans and P rorocentrum levis ( D inophyceae) from the southeastern B ay of B iscay by morphology and molecular phylogeny
Author(s) -
David Helena,
LazaMartínez Aitor,
GarcíaEtxebarria Koldo,
Riobó Pilar,
Orive Emma
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/jpy.12200
Subject(s) - biology , benthic zone , bioassay , phylogenetic tree , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , zoology , ecology , biochemistry , gene
Benthic P rorocentrum species can produce toxins that adversely affect animals and human health. They are known to co‐occur with other bloom‐forming, potentially toxic, benthic dinoflagellates of the genera O streopsis , C oolia, and G ambierdiscus . In this study, we report on the presence of P . elegans M.Faust and P . levis M.A.Faust, Kibler, Vandersea, P.A. Tester & Litaker from the southeastern B ay of B iscay. Sampling was carried out in the S ummer‐ A utumn 2010–2012 along the A tlantic coast of the I berian P eninsula, but these two species were only found in the northeastern part of the P eninsula. Strains were isolated from macroalgae collected from rocky‐shore areas bordering accessible beaches. Morphological traits of isolated strains were analyzed by LM and SEM , whereas molecular analyses were performed using the LSU and internal transcribed spacer ( ITS )1‐5.8S‐ ITS 2 regions of the r DNA . A bioassay with A rtemia fransciscana and liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry analyses were used to check the toxicity of the species, whose results were negative. The strains mostly corresponded to their species original morphological characterization, which is supported by the phylogenetic analyses in the case of P . levis , whereas for P . elegans, this is the first known molecular characterization. This is also the second known report of P . elegans .