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First report of three benthic dinoflagellates, Gambierdiscus pacificus , G. australes and G. caribaeus (Dinophyceae), from Hainan Island, South China Sea
Author(s) -
Zhang Hua,
Wu Zhen,
Cen Jingyi,
Li Yang,
Wang Hualong,
Lu Songhui
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
phycological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.438
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1835
pISSN - 1322-0829
DOI - 10.1111/pre.12137
Subject(s) - dinophyceae , biology , dinoflagellate , benthic zone , temperate climate , subtropics , genus , ecology , zoology , phytoplankton , nutrient
SUMMARY Species of the marine benthic dinoflagellate genus Gambierdiscus are the principal cause of Ciguatera fish poisoning. This genus has been recorded from tropical to temperate oceans, although Gambierdiscus species have rarely been found in Chinese waters. Our work revealed the morphological and genetic characteristics of three potentially toxic Gambierdiscus species observed in the temperate to subtropical waters of China. The fine thecal morphology was determined based on light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses, and these species were also characterized by sequencing the D1–D3 and D8–D10 regions of the LSU r DNA . The morphological and genetic data indicated that these three Gambierdiscus species were G. pacificus , G. australes and G. caribaeus . This work provides the first report of these species in Chinese waters, which increases the known species distribution of this genus.