A cloud-like mass bloom forming dinoflagellate, Bysmatrum sp. at the tidal pool of South Korea

Abstract

A cloud-like mass bloom forming dinoflagellate, Bysmatrum species was observed from the tidal pool of Geoje-do and Jeju Island in South Korea. The thecal plate formula is typical for the genus: P0, X, 4', 3a, 7", 6c, 4s, 5'", 2"". Cells are 20.6 um wide. The epitheca is conical with slightly straight to round sides and larger than the hypotheca, which is trapezoidal with round sides. The overall morphological characters of the Bysmatrum species are similar to B. gregarium and B. subsalsum. In the phylogenetic analysis using SSU and LSU rDNA, the Bysmatrum species locates between B. gregarium and B. subsalsum clade. Although the detail structures such as apical pore complex and sulcus are not observed yet, the sequence data indicates this Bysmatrum species seem to be a new to science. Further studies on the morphological details will be clear the taxonomic position of the Korean tidal pool Bysmatrum species.