Comparative Ecological Characteristics of Two Potentially Toxic Epiphytic Dinoflagellate Species, Ostreopsis sp. and Coolia canariensis, Native to Jeju Island

• Published in: Ocean and polar research pp. 57 - 69
• Main Authors: 오미령, 김형섭, 장보라, 김종혁, 장건강, Park Jong Woo, 이원호
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국해양과학기술원 01.06.2023
• Subjects: 해양학
• ISSN: 1598-141X; 2234-7313
• DOI: 10.4217/OPR.2023006

Growth responses along the gradient of water temperature, salinity, and light intensity and cytotoxicity against Artemia nauplii were explored using Ostreopsis sp. and Coolia canariensis strains, representing the two potentially toxic epiphytic dinoflagellate (EPD) species from Jeju coastal waters of Korea. Variation in maximum growth rate (GRmax) and maximum biomass yield (Ymax) along the environmental gradients was quite contrasting between the two strains, which appears to be reflected in the in situ abundance distribution of the corresponding genera. The more eurythermal characteristics of Ostreopsis sp. strain were in good agreement with the relative distribution of Ostreopsis spp. and Coolia spp. in 520 macroalgal samples collected from 6 stations. The more stenohaline C. canariensis strain was well matched by a markedly narrower range of salinities in the in situ distribution of Coolia spp. than the salinity range for Ostreopsis species. The differences in light adaptation between the high light-preferring Ostreopsis sp. strain and the more euryphotic C. canariensis strain were remarkably consistent with the distinct vertical profiles of Ostreopsis spp. and Coolia spp. abundance in the red alga Amphiroa sp. off Moom-seom. Cytotoxicity against Artemia nauplii in the Ostreopsis sp. preparation with 1000 cells ml-1 was similar to that in C. canariensis preparation with 12000 cells ml-1, which is noteworthy. Thus, the new potential cytotoxicity risks from C. canariensis along with the well-known toxic genus Ostreopsis may be introduced to Jeju coasts, which necessitates further exploration into the contrasting ecological niches occupied by EPD species in relation to their cytotoxicity. KCI Citation Count: 0