JPR Advance Access originally published online on September 20, 2007
Journal of Plankton Research 2007 29(11):931-947; doi:10.1093/plankt/fbm070
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Biodiversity, biogeography and potential trophic impact of Protoperidinium spp. (Dinophyceae) off the southwestern coast of Ireland
1 Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA 2 Marine Institute, Galway Technology Park, Galway, Ireland 3 Biology Department, MS 32, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
* Corresponding Author: kgribble{at}mbl.edu
Received on June 29, 2007; accepted on September 14, 2007
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This study is the first detailed investigation of the diversity, distribution and potential grazing impacts of Protoperidinium spp. in relation to the hydrography and phytoplankton distributions off the southwestern coast of Ireland. In late July 2003, the area was well stratified, and the Irish Shelf Front was apparent as a strong salinity front offshore. Thirty-two species of Protoperidinium were identified and classified as nearshore, offshore and widespread, based on distribution. In the Celtic Sea, phototrophic dinoflagellates dominated the plankton community nearshore, whereas diatoms dominated offshore of the Irish Shelf Front. Protoperidinium species, including P. steinii, P. depressum and the putative azaspiracid-toxin producer, P. crassipes, were most abundant nearshore in the Celtic Sea. The Bantry Bay section had the highest concentration and diversity of plankton in the study area. Most Protoperidinium species had the highest abundance nearshore along the Bantry Bay section, but the highest concentration of P. crassipes was offshore. Given the plankton concentrations and estimated grazing rates of Protoperidinium species, Protoperidinium had the potential to consume 30–80% of the dinoflagellate or diatom standing stock at the time of the study.
Communicating editor: K.J. Flynn
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