Open AccessGrowth rates of dinoflagellates along the Karachi coast assessed by the size fractionation method
Author(s) -
Sonia Munir,
Pirzada Jamal Ahmed Siddiqui,
Tahira Naz,
Zaib Un-nisa Burhan,
Steve L. Morton
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
oceanological and hydrobiological studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.271
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1897-3191
pISSN - 1730-413X
DOI - 10.1515/ohs-2015-0031
Subject(s) - dinophysis , dinoflagellate , biology , algal bloom , phytoplankton , botany , gymnodinium , ecology , nutrient
The in situ growth rates of dinoflagellates along the Karachi coast off Pakistan was studied by the size fractionated method during winter (February 2006) and summer (May 2007). The growth rate per day ranged from -2.87 to 2.3 d -1 (20 species) in winter and from 1.20 to 1.95 d -1 (13 species) in summer. Growth rates (μ max d -1 ) of the dominant species were as follows: Prorocentrum gracile, Prorocentrum minimum, Prorocentrum arcuatum (1.0-1.10), Protoperidinium steinii (0.92), Gonyaulax spinifera (0.69), Dinophysis acuminata (2.3), Dinophysis caudata (0.92), Ceratium lineatum, Prorocentrum micans (1.95), Gyrodinium sp. (1.88), Ceratium furca (1.70), and Alexandrium ostenfeldii (1.34). The declining growth rates were observed for Pyrophacus stein (-1.10), Scrippsiella trochoidea (-1.61 to -0.82), Prorocentrum donghaiense (-1.94) and Karenia mikimotoi (-2.48). Our results suggest that a higher temperature induce an increase in dinoflagellate growth rates.