Cysts of lingulodinium polyedrum, red tide producing organism in the todos santos bay (winter-spring, 2000)

Abstract

Dinoflagellate cysts with dinosporin walls were identified for the first time in samples collected at Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, Mexico, during winter-spring 2000. Eighteen neritic species characteristic of temperate to temperate-cool neritic regions were identified, mainly from the Gonyaulacaceae and Congruentidiaceae families. The cysts were concentrated in the coastal zone, at depths shallower than 25 m, associated with surface fine sediments. Lingulodinium polyedrum (Stein) Dodge was the dominant species in both the sediments and in the water column, producing spring and summer red tides in the area.

Keywords

• dinoflagellates
• cysts
• red tide
• blooms
• Todos Santos Bay