Morphological identification of Alexandrium species in Jinhae Bay, Korea

Abstract

The outbreaks of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and dense blooms caused by Alexandrium species in Jinhae Bay have been nearly annual events for many years,however morphological identification of Alexandrium species has not fully understand yet.In this study, we provide detailed morphological features, and discuss intraspecificvariability. 24 culture strains were established from water column or sediment trap samplesin Jinhae Bay, Korea. Four species were identified: Alexandrium affine, A.fundyense (A. tamarense complex group Ⅰ), A. insuetum and A. pacificum (A. tamarensecomplex group Ⅳ). A. affine was characterized by the shape of the apical pore plate,which is bullet-shaped with a attachment pore. A. insuetum had a Goniodoma&#8211 type 1’plateand highly reticulated thecal plates. A. fundyense was morphologically indistinguishablefrom A. pacificum. However, the variations of the apical pore complex and posterior sulcal plate were only observed in A. pacificum.derstand yet.In this study, we provide detailed morphological features, and discuss intraspecificvariability. 24 culture strains were established from water column or sediment trap samplesin Jinhae Bay, Korea. Four species were identified: Alexandrium affine, A.fundyense (A. tamarense complex group Ⅰ), A. insuetum and A. pacificum (A. tamarensecomplex group Ⅳ). A. affine was characterized by the shape of the apical pore plate,which is bullet-shaped with a attachment pore. A. insuetum had a Goniodoma&#8211 type 1’plateand highly reticulated thecal plates. A. fundyense was morphologically indistinguishablefrom A. pacificum. However, the variations of the apical pore complex and posterior sulcal plate were only observed in A. pacificum.