title: Plankton resting stages in recent sediments of Haifa port, Israel (Eastern Mediterranean) - Distribution, viability and potential environmental consequences.
abstract: Resting stages of plankton were sampled in the surficial sediments in the port of Haifa, Israel, on the eve of a major port enlargement project. We recorded the structure of the assemblages and examined their relationship with different environments within the port. Our findings reveal a remarkably high diversity coupled with low density and the highest number of oligotrich ciliate cyst types recorded from marine sediments. Near the eutrophic and highly polluted zone of the Kishon estuary ciliates were more abundant than elsewhere in the port, whereas dinoflagellates' abundance was reduced, and these trends held true both for full and empty cysts. Some harmful or potentially toxic species, such as Scrippsiella acuminata, were widespread in the port. The toxigenic species include Alexandrium minutum, Gymnodinium uncatenatum and Lingulodinium polyedrum. Active cells of the unarmoured, bloom-forming Akashiwo sanguinea were identified in the cultures obtained from the incubated sediments.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, CNR, Talassografico "A Cerruti", Via Roma 3, 74123 Taranto, Italy. Electronic address: rubino@iamc.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rubino
authors.affiliation: Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, CNR, Talassografico "A Cerruti", Via Roma 3, 74123 Taranto, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belmonte
authors.affiliation: The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997811, Israel.
authors.forename: Bella S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Galil
mesh_terms: D016798:Ciliophora; D004141:Dinoflagellida; D004777:Environment; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D007557:Israel; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D010933:Plankton
keywords: Eastern Mediterranean; Germination; Pollution; Resting stages; Surface sediments; Toxic species