Morphology and ecology of the poorly known dinoflagellate Prorocentrum arcuatum (Dinophyceae) from the Medulin Bay (eastern Adriatic Sea)

Abstract

       The unusual and prolonged occurrence of rare and poorly known dinoflagellate Prorocentrum arcuatum in the phytoplankton of the shallow aquaculture site in Medulin Bay was recorded from July 2013 to October 2014. This enabled us to investigate changes in abundance and environmental drivers of P. arcuatum population dynamics in natural conditions, and to provide first detailed description of P. arcuatum from field samples based on SEM images. During 15 months of observations we also recorded seasonal variability in P. arcuatum cell size. The optimum physical conditions for P. arcuatum proliferation were reached in autumn 2013, during the narrow temperature range between 19.6^oC – 20.4^oC, and salinity between 36.7 - 37.7. Despite the general similarity in physical conditions in autumn 2014, this increase in the abundance of P. arcuatum was not repeated, which might be connected to higher competition due to observed interannual changes in phytoplankton population structure.