title: Distribution of resting cysts of the potentially toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax in recently-deposited sediment within Bizerte Lagoon (Mediterranean coast, Tunisia).
abstract: This study investigated the spatial distribution of Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax resting cysts in recently-deposited sediment of Bizerte lagoon (South-Western Mediterranean, Tunisia). This lagoon is the subject of many anthropogenic impacts, such as holding important fishing and aquaculture activities. A. pseudogonyaulax has been shown to produce Goniodomin A, which is a biologically-active compound. We showed that this dinoflagellate produces two types of resting cysts, which could be distinguished by the presence or the absence of a paratabulate wall. The average cyst density across the whole lagoon was rather high, reaching 639 cysts g(-1) of dry sediment (DS). Cyst densities varied widely among the sampled stations, with the highest density of 1685 cyst g(-1)DS being recorded at station 51 near a mussel farm. With respect to sediment characteristics, the highest cyst densities were found within silty sediments with high water content values. The distribution of A. pseudongoyaulax cysts in Bizerte lagoon appears to be related to hydrodynamic factors.
authors.affiliation: Tunisian National Agronomic Institute (INAT), IRESA - Carthage University, U.R Marine Biology (FST El Manar I), 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: bibarouma@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: Habiba Zmerli
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Triki
authors.affiliation: Tunisian National Agronomic Institute (INAT), IRESA - Carthage University, U.R Marine Biology (FST El Manar I), 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ons Kéfi
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Daly-Yahia
authors.affiliation: Ecole Supérieure de la Statistique et de l'Analyse de l'Information, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Dhafer
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malouche
authors.affiliation: Tunisian National Agronomic Institute (INAT), IRESA - Carthage University, U.R Marine Biology (FST El Manar I), 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Yosr
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komiha
authors.affiliation: IOI - Malta Operational Centre, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deidun
authors.affiliation: Institut National des Sciences et Technologie de la Mer (INSTM), Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mouldi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brahim
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Ecologie des Systèmes Marins Côtiers (ECOSYM), UMR 5119 UM2- CNRS-IRD-IFREMER-UM1, Université Montpellier 2, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laabir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000502:physiology*; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D014416:Tunisia
keywords: Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax; Harmful algae; Mapping; Mediterranean Lagoon of Bizerte; Resting cysts; Sediment characteristics