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SUMMARY: Morphology, phylogeny and azaspiracid (AZA) production of a strain of Amphidoma languida isolated from the subtropical Mexican Pacific were examined. Scanning electron microscopy showed the thecal plate arrangement of Am. languida from Mexico as Po, cp, X, 6′, 6′′, 6C, 5S, 6′′′, 2′′′′, with the prominent apical pore complex, the ventral pore on the anterior of the 1′ plate near the suture to the 6′ plate, and the antapical pore on the 2′′′′ plate, which are congruent with those of Am. languida reported from the Atlantic. The ventral depression was occasionally observed on the anterior end of Sa plate. Cells had a dinokaryotic nucleus positioned in the posterior part of the cell and parietal yellowish chloroplasts with a spherical pyrenoid in the episome. Transmission electron microscopy showed crystalline vesicles and tubular cytoplasmic invaginations in the pyrenoid, which resembled those reported from the most related non‐toxigenic species Amphidoma fulgens. The intracellular components, different from Am. fulgens, were oil droplets and lipid‐associated membranous structures. AZA‐2 was detected from the strain by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry with a cell quota of 30.9 fg cell−1. Three other AZA‐related compounds were also detected. This is the first report of AZA‐producing Am. languida in the Pacific Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Margalefidinium polykrikoides , an unarmored dinoflagellate, was suspected to be the causative agent of the harmful algal blooms – associated with massive fish mortalities – that have occurred continually in Lampung Bay, Indonesia, since the first bloom event in October 2012. In this study, after examination of the morphology of putative M. polykrikoides -like cysts sampled in bottom sediments, cyst bed distribution of this harmful species was explored in the inner bay. Sediment samples showed that resting cysts, including several morphotypes previously reported as M. polykrikoides , were most abundant on the northern coast of Lampung Bay, ranging from 20.6 to 645.6 cysts g-1 dry sediment. Molecular phylogeny inferred from LSU rDNA revealed that the so-called Mediterranean ribotype was detected in the sediment while M. polykrikoides motile cells, four-cell chain forming in bloom conditions, belonged to the American-Malaysian ribotype. Moreover, hyaline cysts, exclusively in the form of four-cell chains, were also recorded. Overall, these results unequivocally show that the species M. polykrikoides is abundantly present, in the form of vegetative cells, hyaline and resting cysts in an Indonesian area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new woloszynskioid dinoflagellates, Asulcocephalium miricentonis gen. et sp. nov. and Leiocephalium pseudosanguineum gen. et sp. nov., are described from Japanese freshwater ponds on the basis of bright field and fluorescence light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and molecular phylogeny inferred from rDNA sequences. Asulcocephalium miricentonis has a spherical anterior nucleus and chloroplast with a pyrenoid penetrated by the cytoplasm. This species has 9–12 latitudinal series of amphiesmal vesicles (AVs), including an apparently large AV on the right ventral side of the epicone. Leiocephalium pseudosanguineum has a U-shaped nucleus in the epicone and chloroplasts without a pyrenoid. This species has at least 24 latitudinal series of AVs. The characteristic features of both species were brick-like material (type E) in the eyespot and the lack of an apical furrow. These features coincide with those of Polarella glacialis , but the two species differ in cell shape, number and arrangement of AVs, shape of resting cysts, and habitats; i.e., P. glacialis has been reported only from marine cold waters. Molecular phylogeny revealed that A. miricentonis and L. pseudosanguineum were positioned in the Suessiaceae and closely related to Piscinoodinium sp., but their relationship to Polarella and other reported taxa was not supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular and body scale structure of a new armored dinoflagellate Heterocapsa huensis, collected from Hue, Vietnam were investigated. Morphology of motile cell was observed by light, fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy, and body scale structure was examined by whole mounts of transmission electron microscopy. Cells of H. huensis were ellipsoid with a spherical nucleus located in the posterior and multiple pyrenoids located above the nucleus; this arrangement was similar to that of Heterocapsa pygmaea. Transmission electron microscopy revealed ultrastructure of the body scales consisted of a rounded triangular basal plate and three-dimensional ornaments. Structure of the basal plate resembles that of Heterocapsa illdefina; however, the number of the peripheral spine is different from that of H. illdefina and this structure has never been reported from Heterocapsa species. A new Heterocapsa species, H. huensis Iwataki et Matsuoka sp. nov., is described based on positions of organelles and body scale ultrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The morphology of an unarmored chain-forming harmful dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides and its similar species such as Cochlodinium catenatum, Cochlodinium fulvescens, and Cochlodinium convolutum was carefully observed, emphasizing the single cell stage for clarifying taxonomically important morphological features. To differentiate C. polykrikoides from C. convolutum, the shape and the position of the nucleus are useful characters. C. polykrikoides also differs from C. fulvescens in being smaller in size, possessing many rod-shaped chloroplasts and having the sulcus running just below the cingulum on the dorsal surface. Careful observation of the ichnotype of C. catenatum suggests that C. catenatum sensu Kofoid and Swezy collected from off La Jolla, CA, USA, is not identical to C. catenatum sensu Okamura and is probably a different species, in having no chloroplasts and a nucleus positioned at the center of the cell. In addition, C. polykrikoides has many morphological features in common with C. catenatum sensu Okamura except for slightly elongate cells and is probably a junior synonym of this species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cellular morphology and the phylogenetic position of a new unarmored photosynthetic dinoflagellate Cochlodinium fulvescens Iwataki, Kawami et Matsuoka sp. nov. were examined by light microscopy and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on partial large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) and small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequences. The cells of C. fulvescens closely resemble C. polykrikoides, one of the most harmful red tide forming dinoflagellates, due to it possessing a cingulum encircling the cell approximately twice, a spherical nucleus positioned in the anterior part of the cell and an eyespot-like orange pigmented body located in the dorsal side of the epicone, as well as formation of cell-chains. However, this species is clearly distinguished from C. polykrikoides based on several morphological characteristics, namely, cell size, shape of chloroplasts and the position of narrow sulcus situated in the cell surface. The sulcus of C. fulvescens is located at the intermediate position of the cingulum in the dorsal side, whereas that of C. polykrikoides is situated immediately beneath the cingulum. LSU rDNA phylogenies indicated that C. fulvescens is clearly distinct from, but closely related to C. polykrikoides among dinoflagellates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterotrophic armored dinoflagellate Protoperidinium thulesense has an unusual combination of morphological characters, i.e. the thecal plate arrangement of the motile cell resembles a typical Protoperidinium, whereas the shape and archeopyle of the cyst are like the diplopsalids. We have re-examined the cyst-motile relationship of P. thulesense by cyst incubation and thecal plate analysis together with a molecular phylogenetic study based on small subunit (SSIJ) rDNA sequences. Five isolates of P. thulesense, including motile cells and cysts, and three Protoperidinium and three diplopsalid species were examined by using the single cell PCR method. The thecal plate arrangement of the motile cells isolated from field samples and those germinated from cysts were identical. The plate formula was: Po, X, 3′, 3a, 7″, 3c+t, 4s, 5′ ″, 2″ ″. The cysts of P. thulesense were round and brown with a theropylic archeopyle, and rather similar to the diplopsalid species, Diplopsalis lenticula, D. lebourae, Gotoius abei and others. SSU rDNA sequence analysis reveals P. thulesense is closely related to the subgenus Protoperidinium, especially species of the section Conica, and distant from the diplopsalid species. The phylogenetic and taxonomic significances of Protoperidinium and diplopsalid round brown cysts with a theropylic archeopyle are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Based on the first survey of Heterocapsa in the Philippines, H. philippinensis sp. nov. is described. • H. philippinensis possesses the sausage-shaped nucleus and circular pattern on the 2a plate. • Body scale ultrastructure is variable in the genus but stable in the clade of H. steinii. • Occurrence of H. pygmaea in Philippines shows the wide distribution of the species. • DNA sequences of H. lanceolata and H. orientalis will help their molecular identification. The thecal tabulation and body scale structure of the marine armoured dinoflagellate Heterocapsa , isolated from Philippines, were examined using LM, SEM and TEM, and its phylogenetic position was inferred from ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. Cells were ovoid and the plate tabulation (Po, cp, X, 5′, 3a, 7′′, 6c, 5s, 5′′′, 2′′′′) was consistent with most Heterocapsa species. The second anterior intercalary plate (2a) had a circular pattern with a thick marginal border free of pores. The nucleus was longitudinally elongated and curved, and located at the dorsal side of the cell. Discoid lobes of brownish chloroplast were peripherally distributed, and a pyrenoid was positioned at the centre. The triradiate body scales, measuring 250–300 nm in diameter, consisted of a roundish basal plate with six radiating ridges, nine peripheral uprights/spines, and three radiating spines. These components were identical to those of H. pseudotriquetra and H. steinii , except for the roundish outline of basal plate. Molecular phylogeny showed that the species clustered with H. pseudotriquetra and H. steinii. This species was differentiated from all other Heterocapsa species in the sausage-shaped nucleus and circular pattern on the 2a plate. This study proposed a novel species Heterocapsa philippinensis sp. nov. for the isolate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports the occurrence of Heterocapsa circularisquama (Dinophyceae) in a coastal area of Hong Kong, South China Sea. Observation of red samples collected in Hong Kong waters; Cell density; Findings of preliminary bioassay; Observation of thecal plate arrangement and fine structure of bioassay using mice and juvenile fishes; Technique used to identify the dinoflagellates; Importance of body scale presentation in the identification of the Heterocapsa species..

A recent (February 2014) mass mortality of fishes was observed in the cage-farming region of the West Johor Strait of Malaysia, involving over four different species of cultured fishes, numbering ∼50,000 fish. A field investigation at six stations along the West Johor Strait collected water samples and examined for the presence of harmful species. Dead fishes were collected for necropsy. The phytoplankton composition was dominated by a species of Karlodinium , at a considerably high cell concentration (0.31–2.34 × 10 6 cells l −1 ), and constituting 68.8–98.6% of the phytoplankton relative abundance at all stations. Detailed morphological assessment by light and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the species was Karlodinium australe de Salas, Bolch and Hallegraeff. This was supported by molecular evidence of the nuclear encoded large subunit ribosomal gene (LSU rDNA) and the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) via single-cell PCR. The sequences of LSU rDNA yielded 3.6–4.0% divergence when compared to the sister taxon, K . armiger ; and >6.5% when compared to other Karlodinium species. Fish necropsy showed symptoms similar to those affected by karlotoxin ichthyotoxins. This is the first report of a mass mortality of cage-cultured and wild fishes attributed to the unarmored dinoflagellate K. australe . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have re-examined the cyst–motile relationships of two Polykrikos species; P. schwartzii and P. kofoidii (Dinophyceae), based on the literature, incubation experiments, and molecular phylogenetic analysis. The longitudinal furrows on the hypocone of P. kofoidii differentiate it from P. schwartzii. Differences in surface ornamentations on the cysts of P. schwartzii and P. kofoidii were considered as important morphological features to differentiate these two species. Many researchers accepted that the cyst of P. schwartzii was characterized by reticulate ornaments and P. kofoidii by separate, rod-like processes. However, encystment/excystment experiments carried out in previous studies clarified that the P. kofoidii cyst has coarse reticulate ornaments, not rod-like processes. Further subsequent observations on these relationships have indicated that rod-like processes develop not on cysts of P. kofoidii but on cysts of P. schwartzii. In combination with morphological observations, phylogenetic analyses of the small subunit and large subunit rDNA sequences, directly collected from vegetative cells and living cysts of P. kofoidii and P. schwartzii confirmed these findings on the cyst motile relationships and thus the criteria for the identification of cysts required revision. Furthermore morphologically intermediate forms, which sometimes occur, are identical to the cysts of P. schwartzii based on the molecular data of a single cell PCR technique for living cysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]