Cryptic speciation of benthic Prorocentrum (Dinophyceae) species and their potential as ecological indicators
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2022
Abstract
The response of marine ecosystems to rapid climate changes has been well recognized but not studied exten-sively. Benthic microalgae, in contrast to the phytoplankton that is able to be transported by currents, have limited dispersal ability and thus are a better ecological indicator to climate changes. Here we performed sampling in the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and South China Sea and established twenty-six strains of benthic Prorocentrum for detailed morphological and molecular examinations. Five Prorocentrum species, including P. concavum, P. fukuyoi, P. mexicanum, P. tsawwassenense, and P. cf. sculptile, were identified. Both P. concavum and P. fukuyoi displayed marked intraspecific divergences in large subunit (LSU) ribosomal RNA gene sequences, corresponding to their geographical origins. In contrast, P. mexicanum strains shared identical LSU sequence. Prorocentrum tsawwassenense and P. cf. sculptile are not suitable ecological indicators as they were rarely observed. Prorocentrum mexicanum is not recommended either as it is present across the region. In contrast, P. concavum and P. fukuyoi have advantages as ecological indicators for climate changes in the Western Pacific as they comprise several ribotypes with differentiated biogeography. Toxin analysis was also performed on all five species except P. fukuyoi by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, but okadaic acid was not detectable.
Keywords
Climate change, Cryptic species, Dinoflagellates, Indicator species, Molecular phylogeny, Okadaic acid
Divisions
ocean
Funders
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No: 42030404),China-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation Fund 'Development of Indonesia-China Center for Ocean Climate',Asian Cooperation Fund Project-Study on Typical Bay Ecological Protection and Management Demonstration,Fund Project for Marine and Fishery Protection and Development in Fujian Province (Grant No: FZJZ-2021-1),Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren through the research program "Changing Earth - Sus-taining our Future" of the Alfred Wegener Institut-Helmholtz Zentrum fuer Polar- und Meeresforschung
Publication Title
Journal of Sea Research
Volume
190
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Location
RADARWEG 29, 1043 NX AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS