Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2010, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (3): 93-96.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2010.03.093cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2010.03.093

• Marine biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Laboratory studies on germination of Scrippsiella trochoidea resting cyst in different environmental conditions

WANG Zhao-hui, ZHANG Yu-juan, CAO Yu   

  1. Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
  • Received:2008-05-13 Revised:2008-08-19 Online:2010-07-01 Published:2010-05-24
  • About author:王朝晖(1968―), 女, 湖南省长沙市人, 教授, 主要从事海洋生态学的研究。
  • Supported by:

    国家自然科学基金项目(40773063); 国家自然科学基金委员会-广东省人民政府自然科学联合基金(U0633006); 广东省科技计
    划项目(2007B030200002)

Abstract:

 Scrippsiella trochoidea is a common bloom causative species and its blooms occur every year in the Daya Bay of the South China Sea. Excystment of S. trochoidea was studied under laboratory conditions at different temperatures (15, 20,  25℃), storage temperature (4, 15, 20, 25℃), storage period (30d, 60d), nutrients (N: 500μg•L-1, P: 74-1.5μg•L-1; P: 74μg•L-1,  N: 100?10μg•L-1) and anoxia. The purpose is to understand factors controlling the germination of S. trochoidea resting cysts. Results showed that the dormancy period for S. trochoidea resting cysts in this study was about 15-25d. There were no obvious differences in germination rate in three temperatures of 15, 20 and 25℃, and the final germination rates were from 75% to 82%. However, low temperature (15℃) postponed the occurrence of germination. The germination rates decreased when cysts were stored under high temperature (25℃) and long durations (over 30d). Nutrient concentrations did not exert visible influences on germination. Anoxia and dark inhibited germination of S. trochoidea cyst completely. The results suggested that the short dor-mancy period and high germination rate of S. trochoidea cyst provided this species the ability to germinate in all seasons of the year in coastal areas of Guangdong province, and resulted in the repeated occurrence of its blooms in the given sea area. Mean-while, only when the benthic cysts were suspended to the upper water column, could massive germination occur and initiate the bloom.

Key words: Scrippsiella trochoidea, resting cyst, excystment, environmental condition