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    Ecological characterization of an unusual red tide (dinoflagellate-cyanobacterium consortium) in the coastal waters of Vizhinjam, southwest coast of India

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    Date
    2025
    Author
    Madhu, N.V.
    Jithin ,P.E.
    Sudheesh, P.
    Jaleel, A.K.U.
    Nishad,T.M.
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    Abstract
    An extensive reddish discoloration was observed in the nearshore waters (20 30 m depth) of Vizhinjam, located on the southwest coast of India, during the last week of October 2023. Microscopic analysis identified Ornithocercus magnificus Stein, 1883 (heterotrophic dinoflagellate) as the primary constituent of bloom, with high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealing the presence of numerous rod-shaped ecto-symbiotic pico-cyanobacteria (<?3 ?m) closely associated with O.magnificus. Environmental conditions during the bloom were characterized by elevated sea surface temperatures (>?30 C) and moderately high nutrient concentrations, with NO3-N and PO4-P levels of 1.39 M and 1.21 M, respectively. Remarkably, the bloom waters exhibited elevated chlorophyll a concentrations (5.28 mg m??3), despite the heterotrophic nature of O.magnificus. This unusual increase is likely attributable to the prolific presence of autotrophic ecto-cyanobionts within the cingulum of O.magnificus. The dominance of zeaxanthin (>?1.5 mg m??3) further suggests that the ecto-cyanobionts belong to the genus Synechococcus. Although the southwest coast of India is recognized for its red tide occurences, the formation of this bloom, involving a symbiotic association between O.magnificus and Synechococcus, is an infrequent phenomenon. This bloom significantly enhanced the phytoplankton productivity of the area in terms of chlorophyll a, despite the inherently heterotrotrophic nature of O.magnificus. The ecological and biogeochemical mechanisms underlying this symbiotic association and bloom formation remain unclear, though similar events are sporadically reported in tropical and subtropical coastal ecosystems, warranting further investigation
    URI
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-024-01027-w
    http://drs.nio.res.in/drs/handle/2264/9393
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