• ALGAE
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.445-452
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• 2006

The morphometry and distribution of the unarmoured dinoflagellates Brachidinium capitatum F.J.R. Taylor, Asterodinium gracile Sournia, Microceratium orstomii Sournia and the toxic species Karenia papilionacea Haywood et Steidinger have been investigated in open waters of the SE Pacific Ocean. The genus Microceratium Sournia is recorded for the first time since the initial description. These taxa showed a high morphological similarity and they may correspond to life stages of a highly versatile single species that is able to project body extensions. Karenia papilionacea showed the higher abundance in the surface waters of the more productive areas (the Marquesas Archipelago and the Perú-Chile Current). Brachidinium capitatum and K. papilionacea often co-occurred, predominating B. capitatum in offshore surface waters. Asterodinium gracile was recorded at the bottom of the euphotic zone (down to 210 m depth), with a shallower distribution in more productive areas. Intermediate specimens of Asterodinium-Brachidinium-Karenia, with variable disposition and size of the body extensions were illustrated.

• ALGAE
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.39-55
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• 2023

Exploring mixotrophy of dinoflagellate species is critical to understanding red-tide dynamics and dinoflagellate evolution. Some species in the dinoflagellate genus Karenia have caused harmful algal blooms. Among 10 Karenia species, the mixotrophic ability of only two species, Karenia mikimotoi and Karenia brevis, has been investigated. These species have been revealed to be mixotrophic; however, the mixotrophy of the other species should be explored. Moreover, although K. mikimotoi was previously known to be mixotrophic, only a few potential prey species have been tested. We explored the mixotrophic ability of Karenia bicuneiformis, Karenia papilionacea, and Karenia selliformis and the prey spectrum of K. mikimotoi by incubating them with 16 potential prey species, including a cyanobacterium, diatom, prymnesiophyte, prasinophyte, raphidophyte, cryptophytes, and dinoflagellates. Cells of K. bicuneiformis, K. papilionacea, and K. selliformis did not feed on any tested potential prey species, indicating a lack of mixotrophy. The present study newly discovered that K. mikimotoi was able to feed on the common cryptophyte Teleaulax amphioxeia. The phylogenetic tree based on the large subunit ribosomal DNA showed that the mixotrophic species K. mikimotoi and K. brevis belonged to the same clade, but K. bicuneiformis, K. papilionacea, and K. selliformis were divided into different clades. Therefore, the presence or lack of a mixotrophic ability in this genus may be partially related to genetic characterizations. The results of this study suggest that Karenia species are not all mixotrophic, varying from the results of previous studies.

• 환경생물
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.236-244
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• 2021

Unarmored dinoflagellates, in the family Kareniaceae, include harmful or toxic bloom-forming species, which are associated with massive fish kills and mortalities of marine organisms worldwide. The occurrence and distribution of the toxigenic species in the family Kareniaceae were investigated in the brackish and coastal waters of Korea between July 2018 and October 2020. During the survey, we collected seven newly recorded species; Karenia papilionacea, Karlodinium digitatum, Karl. veneficum, Karl. zhouanum, Takayama acrotrocha, T. helix, and T. tasmanica. A total of fifteen strains of the seven taxa were successfully established as clonal cultures and examined using LM, SEM, and molecular phylogeny inferred from LSU rDNA sequences. Herein, we present the taxonomic information, morphological features, and molecular phylogenetic positions of the unrecorded dinoflagellate species collected from Korean coastal waters.