title: Distribution ofAlexandrium fundyense(Dinophyceae) cysts in Greenland and Iceland, with an emphasis on viability and growth in the Arctic.
abstract: The bloom-forming dinoflagellateAlexandrium fundyensehas been extensively studied due its toxin-producing capabilities and consequent impacts to human health and economies. This study investigated the prevalence of resting cysts ofA. fundyensein western Greenland and Iceland to assess the historical presence and magnitude of bloom populations in the region, and to characterize environmental conditions during summer, when bloom development may occur. Analysis of sediments collected from these locations showed thatAlexandriumcysts were present at low to moderate densities in most areas surveyed, with highest densities observed in western Iceland. Additionally, laboratory experiments were conducted on clonal cultures established from isolated cysts or vegetative cells from Greenland, Iceland, and the Chukchi Sea (near Alaska) to examine the effects of photoperiod interval and irradiance levels on growth. Growth rates in response to the experimental treatments varied among isolates, but were generally highest under conditions that included both the shortest photoperiod interval (16h:8h light:dark) and higher irradiance levels (~146-366 μmol photons m-2s-1), followed by growth under an extended photoperiod interval and low irradiance level (~37 μmol photons m-2s-1). Based on field and laboratory data, we hypothesize that blooms in Greenland are primarily derived from advectedAlexandriumpopulations, as low bottom temperatures and limited light availability would likely preclude in situ bloom development. In contrast, the bays and fjords in Iceland may provide more favorable habitat for germling cell survival and growth, and therefore may support indigenous, self-seeding blooms.
authors.affiliation: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd., MS 32, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA.
authors.forename: Mindy L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Richlen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zielinski
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holinde
authors.affiliation: Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany.
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tillmann
authors.affiliation: Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cembella
authors.affiliation: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd., MS 32, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA; State Key Lab of Marine Environmental Science, School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
authors.forename: Yihua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.affiliation: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd., MS 32, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA.
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Anderson
keywords: Alexandrium; Arctic; cysts; dinoflagellate; harmful algal bloom