Toxic dinoflagellate resting cyst distribution in the surface sediments of the northeast of the Persian Gulf in relation with environmental parameters and their role in bloom formation in the region

Studying about bloom of dinoflagellate HAB species have been conducted by several authors in the Persian Gulf often after each bloom events occurred in the region. However, few blooms occurred in the Persian Gulf compared to other regions like the Gulf of Oman in its neighborhood. Two main Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxin producer (PSTs) dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense and Gymnodinium catenatum, which both produce resting cysts as part of their life cycle, are present in the Persian Gulf. There is no large-scale bloom reported caused by either of these species, this is in spite of the fact that resting cysts of P. bahamense is abundant in surface sediments. Lingulodinium polyedrum and Gonyaulax spinifera are two other dinoflagellate bloom forming species, which can produce yessotoxins, and their resting cysts are abundant in the surface sediments of the Persian Gulf. In ۲۰۰۸-۲۰۰۹ bloom of toxic dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides occurred in the Gulf region and lasted for ۸ month; however its resting cysts is almost absent in the surface sediments in the studied area.

کلیدواژه ها:

Toxic dinoflagellate ، Resting cyst ، Bloom chance ، Persian Gulf