Presence of Gymnodinium catenatum (Dinophyceae) in a coastal Mediterranean lagoon

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Abstract
The occurrence and abundance of the toxic, chain-forming dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum in a Tyrrhenian coastal lagoon, the Fusaro, during an annual sampling cycle are reported. Peak abundances were observed from late spring until early autumn Although very high cell numbers were recorded, up to 1 5 × 106 cells l−1, no monospecific bloom of this species occurred. The first observation of G.catenatum in the Mediterranean occurred in the Fusaro and the appearance of this species in a traditional shellfish farming area, where no shellfish intoxication has been reported to date, is discussed in relation to human interventions in the basin. In particular, intensive dredging in recent years with resuspension of bottom sediments may have seeded the water body with cysts. A Gymnodinium n d species, illustrated using scanning electron microscopy, caused a monospecific bloom in concomitance with maximum abundances of G.catenatum, apparently outcompeting this latter species

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