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The high evolutionary potential of phytoplankton species allows them to rapidly adapt to global warming. Adaptations may occur in temperaturedependent traits, such as growth rate, cell size and life cycle processes. Using resurrection experiments with resting stages from living sediment archives, it is possible to investigate whether adaptation occurred. For this study, we revived resting cysts of the spring bloom dinoflagellate Apocalathium malmogiense from recent and 100-year-old sediment layers from the Gulf of Finland, and compared temperature-dependent traits of recent and historic strains along a temperature gradient. We detected no changes in growth rates and cell sizes but a significant difference between recent and historic strains regarding resting cyst formation. The encystment rate of recent strains was significantly lower compared with historic strains which we interpret as an indication of adaptation to higher and more rapidly increasing spring temperatures. Low encystment rates may allow for bloom formation even if the threshold temperature inducing a loss of actively growing cells through resting cyst formation is exceeded. Our findings reveal that phenotypic responses of phytoplankton to changing temperature conditions may include hidden traits such as life cycle processes and their regulation mechanisms. This study emphasizes the potential of living sediment archives to investigate plankton responses and adaptation to global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY A new genus of sand-dwelling photosynthetic dinoflagellate, Testudodinium Horiguchi, Tamura, Katsumata et A. Yamaguchi is proposed based on Testudodinium testudo (Herdman) Horiguchi, Tamura, Katsumata, et A. Yamaguchi comb. nov. (Basionym: Amphidinium testudo Herdman) and a new species in this new genus, Testudodinium maedaense Katsumata et Horiguchi sp. nov. is described. Amphidinium corrugatum is also transferred to this genus, making a new combination T. corrugatum (Larsen et Patterson) Horiguchi, Tamura et A. Yamaguchi. These three species are similar to the members of the genus Amphidinium in having an extremely small episome and a dorsoventrally flattened cell body. They are, however, distinguished from the genus Amphidinium seusu stricto by the possession of a distinct longitudinal furrow in the middle of ventral side of the episome. Phylogenetic trees based on small subunit (SSU) rDNA revealed that all three of these Testudodinium species formed a robust clade and, although statistical support is not high, the tree suggests Testudodinium clade is not closely related to Amphidinium seusu stricto clade. The morphological differences together with molecular data support the establishment of a new genus for A. testudo and its related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A monitoring programme for microzooplankton was started at the long-term sampling station 'Kabeltonne' at Helgoland Roads (54°11.3′N; 7°54.0′E) in January 2007 in order to provide more detailed knowledge on microzooplankton occurrence, composition and seasonality patterns at this site and to complement the existing plankton data series. Ciliate and dinoflagellate cell concentration and carbon biomass were recorded on a weekly basis. Heterotrophic dinoflagellates were considerably more important in terms of biomass than ciliates, especially during the summer months. However, in early spring, ciliates were the major group of microzooplankton grazers as they responded more quickly to phytoplankton food availability. Mixotrophic dinoflagellates played a secondary role in terms of biomass when compared to heterotrophic species; nevertheless, they made up an intense late summer bloom in 2007. The photosynthetic ciliate Myrionecta rubra bloomed at the end of the sampling period. Due to its high biomass when compared to crustacean plankton especially during the spring bloom, microzooplankton should be regarded as the more important phytoplankton grazer group at Helgoland Roads. Based on these results, analyses of biotic and abiotic factors driving microzooplankton composition and abundance are necessary for a full understanding of this important component of the plankton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Dinoflagellates from the genus Ostreopsis have been related to the production of palytoxin and analogues. Based on that, this paper describes functional studies of crude extracts from Ostreopsis cf. siamensis collected in the Mediterranean Sea in order to biochemically characterize their toxic compounds. Methods: We compared the effects of 5 crude dinoflagellates extracts with a commercially available palytoxin and a purified Ostreopsis ovata extract on metabolic activity, membrane potential, and cytosolic calcium levels by using fluorescent dyes. Results: All the extracts resulted to be neurotoxic. In addition, all of them induced a membrane depolarization and a calcium increment that were abolished when preincubating with ouabain, an inhibitor of the Na+/K+ pump. Conclusion: The effects observed were quite close to those induced by palytoxin and the Ostreopsis ovata extract as well, suggesting that Ostreopsis cf. siamensis is actually producing palytoxin-like compounds that are highly toxic and functionally active. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Rupelian (Lower Oligocene) and Chattian (Upper Oligocene) stratotype sections are both defined on the basis of the southern North Sea Basin sedimentary successions. The characterisation of biotic events occurring within the stratotypes (and equivalents) is vital for the recognition of these stages outside the North Sea Basin. Although the restricted marine setting of the North Sea Basin during most of the Paleogene clearly hampers ‘traditional’ calcareous microfossil calibration, organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts) are increasingly successful in the stratigraphic analysis and calibration of the marginal-marine North Sea Basin successions. Here we present a high-resolution Oligocene dinocyst biostratigraphic zonation scheme for the southern North Sea Basin based on previously published and new dinocyst studies from Belgium, northern Germany and The Netherlands. Eight (southern) North Sea Oligocene (NSO) dinocyst zones (biozones) and four subzones are here defined. Their application on a regional and inter-regional scale is discussed. The stratigraphic important Late Oligocene dinocyst taxon Triphragmadinium demaniae gen. and sp. nov. is formally described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The 1-year seasonal distribution of Ceratium hirundinella was studied in a southern Spanishreservoir. This species grew from June 1988 to April 1989 and showed the highest density in winter, coinciding with the lowest water temperature values and with the period of water circulation. These seasonal dynamics do not accord with the typical description of C. hirundinella in temperate systems as a phytoplankton species of stratified and warm waters. We compared the factors that influenced C. hirundinella development in this system with those operating at different latitudes and concluded that the light and temperature conditions would allow C. hirundinella to grow throughout the year in this reservoir. However, the occurrence of this potential growth is probably regulated by ecological factors, such as the presence of hypolimnetic anoxic conditions and the hydraulic regime of thereservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The newly described toxic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida is a polymorphic and multiphasic species with flagellated, amoeboid, and cyst stages. The species is structurally a heterotroph; however, the flagellated stages can have cleptochloroplasts in large food vacuoles and can temporarily function as mixotrophs. The flagellated stage has a typical mesokaryotic nucleus, and the theca is composed of four membranes, two of which are vesicular and contain thin plates arranged in a Kofoidian series of Po, cp, S,4' la, 5'' 6c, 4s, 5''', and 2'' '', The plate tabulation is unlike that of any other armored dinoflagellate. Nodules often demark the suture lines underneath the outer membrane, but fixation protocols can influence the detection of plates. Amoeboid benthic stages can be filose to lobose, are thecate, and have a reticulate or spiculate appearance. Amoeboid stages have a eukaryotic nuclear profile and are phagocytic. Cyst stages include a small spherical stage with a honeycomb, reticulate surface and possibly another stage that is elongate and oval to spherical with chrysophyte-like scales that can have long bracts. The species is placed in a new family, Pfiesteriaceae, and the Dinamoebales is emended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]