Red tides of the dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans associated with eutrophication in the Sea of Marmara (the Dardanelles, Turkey)

This investigation focused on weekly variations in cell density and volume of the dinoflagellateNoctiluca scintillans between March 2001 and January 2004 in the Dardanelles. March-June andOctober-December periods were excessive bloom periods. During the bloomperiods the density of N. scintillans reached 2.20 × 105 cells L-1 witha volume of 1.32 × 1012 µm3 L-1. In addition tothe high surface density, there was an increase in subsurface waters duringthe blooms. The bloom of N. scintillans, like that of diatom and otherdinoflagellate blooms, was associated not only with eutrophication, but alsowith stable temperatures and salinities.