Short-term variations in development of a recurrent toxicAlexandrium minutum-dominated dinoflagellate bloom induced by meteorological conditions1 (original) (raw)

2007, Journal of Phycology

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are common phenomena in coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Most of these blooms are caused by dinoflagellates, including Alexandrium minutum as one of the most widespread species (Honsell et al. 1995). This specific organism is one of the toxic algae associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and is, therefore, the center of attention for many scientific studies worldwide. Dinoflagellates are characterized by optimum growth rates under low-turbulence conditions, whereas elevated cellular densities (i.e., bloom conditions) of small-sized species (like A. minutum) are usually coincident with high nutrient levels 1