Low-active high-density Noctiluca scintillans cells in surface seawater

• Published in: Oceanologia Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 402 - 407
• Main Authors: Tada, Kuninao, Asahi, Toshimasa, Kitatsuji, Saho, Nomura, Mika, Yamaguchi, Hitomi, Ichimi, Kazuhiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wroclaw Elsevier Sp. z o.o 01.07.2020; Zaklad Narodowy imienia Ossolinskich; Elsevier
• Subjects: Activity; ATP; Cell density; Cells; Coastal water; Coastal waters; Heterotrophic dinoflagellate; Marine; Noctiluca scintillans; Surface water; Zooplankton; INW, Japan Inland Sea; Noctiluca scintillans; Heterotrophic dinoflagellate; Activity; Coastal water; ATP; Cell density
• ISSN: 0078-3234; 2300-7370
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceano.2020.02.005

•Noctiluca scintillans is a heterotrophic dinoflagellate widely distributed in the temperate and subtropical region.•N. scintillans often forms red tides in coastal water and discolors the surface water.•It is reported that N. scintillans plays a significant role in the marine ecosystem because of its high biomass, even if it does not form a red tide.•N. scintillans cells in subsurface layers with low density were so active and high density cells in the surface water were low active. Noctiluca scintillans is an important member of the mesozooplankton in terms of biomass and production in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The densities and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contents of N. scintillans cells were measured. Vertical profiles of N. scintillans cellular activity in the coastal water were determined and the ATP contents were high at middle layers, with a maximum depth of 10 m. ATP contents were low in the surface and lower layers. These results suggest that active N. scintillans cells in subsurface layers with low density play an important role in the coastal ecosystem, and high-density cells in the surface water are not active.