Morphological Observation of Alexandrium tamarense (Lebour) Balech, A. catenella (Whedon et Kofoid) Balech and One Related Morphotype (Dinophyceae) in Korea

doi:2002.17.1.11

Algae > Volume 17(1); 2002 > Article

Algae 2002;17(1): 11-19. doi: https://doi.org/10.4490/ALGAE.2002.17.1.011

Keun-Yong Kim, Matoko Yoshida, Yasuwo Fukuyo, Chang-Hoon Kim

Department of Aquaculture, Pukyong National University, Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University, Asian National Environmental Science Center, The University of Tokyo

ABSTRACT

Twenty-nine culture strains belonging to the genus Alexandrium Halim (Dinophyceae) were established from water column or sediments in Korea. Seventeen isolates were identified as A. Tamarense (Lebour) Balech, eight isolates as A. sp. cf. catenella and one as A. catenella (Whedon et Kofoid) Balech according to the presence or absence of a ventral pore, the shape of the posterior sulcal plate and the sulcal width. Three isolates were unable to be identified due to considerable distortion of thecal plates and lack of enough materials, but typical of A. tamarense and/or A. catenella. The overall cell shape of A. tamarense was usually longer than wide. The posterior sulcal plate was definitely longer than wide dorsoventrally, and sulcus extended posteriorly without apparent widening. They were distributed in three major coasts of Korea. In contrast, the cell shape of A. sp. cf. catenella was generally anterior-posteriorly flattened. The transversal axis of the posterior sulcal plate was always longer than the longitudinal, or both axes were nearly equal in length. Its sulcus was broader than that of A. tamarense and widened in the direction of antapex about 1.5 times. This morphotype existed in nearshore and offshore waters of the southern Korea sea. One of A. catenella isolates from Jinhae Bay showed no conspicuous differences with A. sp. cf. catenella except for the consistent absence of a ventral pore.

Key words: Alexandrium tamarense, Alexandrium catenella, Alexandrium sp. cf. catenella, geographical distribution, morphological observation