The First Appearance of Toxic Dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense (Gonyaulacales, Dinophyceae) Responsible for the PSP Contaminations in Gamak Bay, Korea

doi:2008.23.4.251

Algae > Volume 23(4); 2008 > Article

Algae 2008;23(4): 251-255. doi: https://doi.org/10.4490/algae.2008.23.4.251

Hyeon Ho Shin¹, Yang Ho Yoon², Hisae Kawami¹, Mitsunori Iwataki³ and Kazumi Matsuoka³^*

¹Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
²Faculty of Marine Technology, Chonnam National University, San 96-1, Dundeok-dong, Yeosu 550-749, Korea
³Institute for East China Sea Research, Nagasaki University, 1551-7 Taira-machi, Nagasaki 851-2213, Japan

*Corresponding Author

Email: kazu-mtk@nagasaki-u.ac.jp

ABSTRACT

In Gamak Bay, Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) was first detected from seafoods in 2003, however the toxin source is unknown yet. In this study, we report potential PSP producers of toxic dinoflagellates, describing morphology and abundance of cysts isolated from surface sediment of Gamak Bay. The most abundant type in these cysts was characterized with ellipsoidal and transparent wall identical to Alexandrium catenella and/or A. tamarense. Germination experiment of the cysts revealed that all motile cells germinated were morphologically identified as A. tamarense. This result suggests that A. tamarense may relate to PSP contaminations in Gamak Bay. Moreover, bottom water temperature in Gamak Bay is favorable for germination of A. tamarense cysts. Further studies are required to carry out the PSP monitoring for preventing the risk of PSP events that may outbreak in future at Gamak Bay.

Key words: Alexandrium tamarense, dinoflagellate cyst, Gamak Bay, germination experiment, PSP