• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.15-19
• /
• 2009

Early studies claimed that heterotrophic dinoflagellates Pfiesteria piscicida and related genera may produce a putative water-soluble toxin that causes death of fish and other marine animals. Several methods were tested to visualize plate morphology of Cryptoperidiniopsis brodyi and Pfiesteria piscicida. Cellulose plates of cells were exposed and visualized- by a membrane stripping method using Triton X-100. While calcofluor M2R white stain could readily bind to the thecal plates, details of the plate tabulation were difficult to observe. Fixation with osmium tetroxide $(OsO_4)$ produced well preserved cells with little morphological distortion, but thecal plates could not be visualized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation using the membrane stripping method showed distinctive plate tabulations between C. brodyi and P. piscicida suggesting that this method is a useful tool for morphological identification of lightly armored dinoflagellates.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.57-67
• /
• 2007

We analyzed the nuclear-encoded large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rDNA) sequences of 19 dinoflagellates occurring in costal waters off Korea and reconstructed a phylogenetic tree containing 74 representative species from 37 distinct genera. Of these, the LSU rDNA sequences of Amylax triacantha (Jörgensen) Sournia, Gonyaulax verior Sournia (= Amylax diacantha Meunier), Gyrodinium fissum (Levander) Kofoid et Swezy, Katodinium glaucum (Lebour) Lebour III, Noctiluca scintillans (Macartney) Kofoid et Swezy, Oxyphysis oxytoxoides Kofoid, and Pyrophacus steinii (Schiller) Wall et Dale are reported for the first time. Our LSU rDNA tree consistently placed Oxyrrhis marina Dujardin and N. scintillans at the most primitive positions, giving rise to a strongly supported monophyletic group of typical dinoflagellate species belonging to the Dinophyceae. The phylogenetic relationships among the typical dinoflagellates, however, were not resolved in the higher taxonomic levels in general. Only genera at terminal branches were usually supported with high confidence. The Dinophysiales, represented by Dinophysis species and O. oxytoxoides, formed a strongly supported monophyletic assemblage. The Gymnodiniales and Peridiniales were recovered as polyphyletic groupings. Members of the Gonyaulacales were consistently grouped together, but lacked statistical support. Within this order, the Ceratiaceae and Goniodomataceae each formed a monophyletic group, but the Gonyaulacaceae was polyphyletic. The phylogenetic relationships of the Gonyaulacaceae were generally congruent with differences in the combinations of the apical pore complex, hypothecal organization and thecal formula.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.515-523
• /
• 2001

The dinoflagellates have some primitive nuclear features and are evolutionarily intermediate between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The small subunit ribosomal RAN gene, the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of Gonyaulax polyedra were cloned, and their sequences were analyzed to better understand their evolutionary position. The small subunit ribosomal RNA gene was 1,794 nt long, the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene was approximately 3,500 nt long, and the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene was 159 nt long. The first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) was 191 nt long, and the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) was 185 nt long. The intergenic spacer of the ribosomal RNA gene (IGS) was about 2,200 nt long, indicating that 5,800 nt of transcribed sequences were separated by roughly 2,200 nt of intergenic spacer. The ribosomal RNA genes were repeated many times and arranged in a head-to-tail, tandemly repeated manner. The repeating unit of ribosomal RNA gene of G. polyedra was proposed to be 8,000 nt long. Based on the lengths of ribosomal RNA, sequence alignments with representative organisms, and phylogenetic analysis on ribosomal RNA, G. polyedra appears to be one of the alveolates branched from the eukaryotic crown and, among dinoflagellates, it seems to not have emerged early.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2021

The mixotrophic dinoflagellate Tripos furca causes red tides in the waters of many countries. To understand its population dynamics, mortality due to predation as well as growth rate should be assessed. Prior to the present study, the heterotrophic dinoflagellates Noctiluca scintillans, Polykrikos kofoidii, Protoperidinium steinii, and mixotrophic dinoflagellate Fragilidium subglobosum were known to ingest T. furca. However, if other common heterotrophic protists are able to feed on T. furca has not been tested. We explored interactions between T. furca and nine heterotrophic dinoflagellates and one naked ciliate. Furthermore, we investigated the abundance of T. furca and common heterotrophic protists in coastal-offshore waters off Yeosu, southern Korea, on Jul 31, 2020, during its red tide. Among the tested heterotrophic protists, the heterotrophic dinoflagellates Aduncodinium glandula, Luciella masanensis, and Pfiesteria piscicida were able to feed on T. furca. However, the heterotrophic dinoflagellates Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense, Gyrodinium dominans, Gyrodinium jinhaense, Gyrodinium moestrupii, Oblea rotunda, Oxyrrhis marina, and the naked ciliate Rimostrombidium sp. were unable to feed on it. However, T. furca did not support the growth of A. glandula, L. masanensis, or P. piscicida. Red tides dominated by T. furca prevailed in the South Sea of Korea from Jun 30 to Sep 5, 2020. The maximum abundance of heterotrophic dinoflagellates in the waters off Yeosu on Jul 31, 2020, was as low as 5.0 cells mL-1, and A. glandula, L. masanensis, and P. piscicida were not detected. Furthermore, the abundances of the known predators F. subglobosum, N. scintillans, P. kofoidii, and Protoperidinium spp. were very low or negligible. Therefore, no or low abundance of effective predators might be partially responsible for the long duration of the T. furca red tides in the South Sea of Korea in 2020.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.521-534
• /
• 2020

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) occurs when saxitoxin (STX), which is produced by harmful algae (dinoflagellates) and then accumulated in bivalve shellfish by filter-feeding, is consumed by humans. With recent advances in analysis technology, it has been reported that dinoflagellates also produce a variety of analogues such as the gonyautoxin (GTX) group and the N-sulfo-carbamoyl toxin (C toxin) group, in addition to STX. Accordingly, CODEX and the EFSA are stepping forward to manage STX and analogues as STX groups requiring safety management. In Korea, the occurrence of dinoflagellates producing STX analogues has already been reported, and contamination of analogues (GTX group, C toxin group) in live mussels has also been reported. In this study, in order to provide the basis for systematic monitoring and safety management of STX and analogues, their physicochemical characteristics, occurrence of dinoflagellates, toxicity and toxic equivalency factor, analytical method and occurrence were widely reviewed. This review is expected to contribute to strengthening the safety management of STX and its analogues.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.271-284
• /
• 2014

The morphology of 26 species of the genus Tripos was studied among a total of 51 species of this genus, which were taken using $20{\mu}m$ net samples from June 2006 to January 2011 at 14 stations around Jeju Island. Of these, 23 species were first described as new records in Korean waters and 3 species were redescribed. Short descriptions and synonyms are given for each species in the present study. The dinoflagellates of family Ceratiaceae include marine and freshwater species, belonged to originally the genus Ceratium. Recently, this genus were divided into a new combination with the genus Tripos, which contains the marine species, and the original genus Ceratium, including the freshwater species. We used the Tripos genus for the marine species in this study as a valid name.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.229-235
• /
• 2011

Spliced leader (SL) trans-splicing is a mRNA processing mechanism in dinoflagellate nuclear genes. Although studies have identified a short, conserved dinoflagellate SL (dinoSL) sequence (22-nt) in their nuclear-encoded transcripts, whether the majority of nuclear-coded transcripts in dinoflagellates have the dinoSL sequence remains doubtful. In this study, we investigated dinoSL-containing gene transcripts using 454 pyrosequencing data (Cochlodinium polykrikoides, 93 K sequence reads, 31 Mb; Prorocentrum minimum, 773 K sequence reads, 291 Mb). After making comparisons and performing local BLAST searches, we identified dinoSL for one C. polykrikoides gene transcript and eight P. minimum gene transcripts. This showed transcripts containing the dinoSL sequence were markedly fewer in number than the total expressed sequence tag (EST) transcripts. In addition, we found no direct evidence to prove that most dinoflagellate nuclear-coded transcripts have this dinoSL sequence.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
• /
• 2009.05a
• /
• pp.839-841
• /
• 2009

Dinoflagellates are known to cause red tide outbreaks and even to produce toxin. Recently, red tide events have frequently occurred in several embayments of the Korean coast and have brought serious damage to inshore fisheries. Thus, the red tide research activities including the taxonomy as well as distribution of toxic dinoflagellates have received ever increasing attention in Korean waters. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct an extensive taxonomical study on red tide organisms in coastal zone of Korea. The present study is to clarify the fine structures of Prorocentrum spp. and to describe each species with taxonomical notes for plankton monitoring network.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
• /
• 2009.05a
• /
• pp.842-844
• /
• 2009

The major group which contains all the organisms that are commonly termed Dinoflagellates is called the division Pyrrophyta or Dinophyta in botanical systems and the order Dinoflagellida or Dinoflagellata in zoological systems. Most dinoflagellates are biflagellated solitary planktonic cells. A taxonomic survey of the dinoflagellate family, Triadiniaceae Dodge was conducted for plankton monitoring network in the coastal waters of Korea. Identification of species in water samples was usually done by using differential interference contrast (DIC), which revealed especially well lighted thecal structures. For the apparent three-dimensional image, scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used. Two species were identified and described, which were Triadinium orientale(Lindemann)Dodge and Triadinium sphaericum(Murray and Whitting)Dodge.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.259-265
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted June 2011 at Gamo Lagoon, after tsunami of March 2011, to estimate food sources and utilization. The results show that the tsunami affected the sediment properties by changing the physical environmental alterations. The fatty acids of the gut content of Nuttallia olivacea mostly comprised the same organic matter found in the sediment. Fatty acids in the tissues showed mainly diatoms, bacteria, and dinoflagellates. That is, most of the food sources (i.e., diatoms, bacteria, dinoflagellates, macroalgae, and terrestrial organic matter) probably pass through the digestive system unharmed; however, terrestrial organic matter, which is refractory to biochemical degradation, indicated a different assimilation trend between the gut content and the tissue. This result suggests that input of labile organic matter from the sediment may control selective metabolism in N. olivacea. From these results, although the physical environment of sediment characteristics by tsunami changed, the food utilization of N. olivacea suggested a better assimilation of selected components from the gut content, irrespective of physical alteration.