[Red tide bloom produced by Lingulodinium polyedrum (Peridiniales, Dinophyceae) in Bahía Culebra, Papagayo Gulf, Costa Rica].
This is the first record of the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum in a red tide bloom in the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The sample was collected on April 2000 at Culebra Bay, Gulf of Papagayo, from a patch of aproximatly 2000 m2, which produced a red discoloration of the water and a peculiar strong odor. This species produces spherical hypnocysts that may remain for decades when dark or anoxic conditions are present; L. polyedrum had been associated with the production of paralyzing toxins such as saxitoxins and yessotoxins. A second smaller patch was observed close Panama beach, into the bay, where we found seven puffer fish (Diodontidae) and two lobsters dead in the sand. It is important to develop a monitoring program to identify seasonal behavior of this species and ameliorate its impact on coastal human communities.
Morales-Ramírez
A
A
Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnogía y Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060 San José, Costa Rica. amorales@cariari.ucr.ac.cr
Víquez
R
R
Rodríguez
K
K
Vargas
M
M
D000818:Animals; D003364:Costa Rica; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008387:Marine Toxins; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D011156:Population Density
D008387:Marine Toxins; D010860:Pigments, Biological