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Abstract:
The genus Coolia, which contains potentially toxic epibenthic dinoflagellate species, was studied throughout 17 sampling sites on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula during the summers of 2010–2012. Cells from natural samples were isolated into culture, and the strains were observed by light and scanning electron microscopy in order to study and measure the morphological traits. A detailed compilation of previously compiled Coolia measurements was used for comparisons. To gain insight into the taxonomy of the strains, two regions of the nuclear-encoded rDNA were used as markers to infer phylogenetic relationships: the large subunit (LSU) and the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 plus the 5.8S region of the gene (ITS). Two species were found within the study area: Coolia monotis, which was widely distributed throughout the entire area, and Coolia cf. canariensis, which was found at only one sampling site. The observed morphology of the clonal cultures was supported by their accepted taxonomical descriptions in concordance with the phylogenetic analysis of both LSU and ITS regions. This study provided evidence of the limited geographic distribution of Coolia cf. canariensis in the studied area.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Financial support was provided by the Department for Environment of Bizkaiko Foru Aldundia, the Bilbao-Bizkaia Water Consortium and the Basque Government (projects IT-417-07 and Etortek 2007: K-Egokitzen). A grant from the University of the Basque Country to H. David and a specialisation fellowship for PhD researchers awarded by the University of the Basque Country to A. Laza-Martínez also supported this study.
SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Supplementary data associated with this article can be found online at http://dx.doi.org/10.2216/13–214.1.s1.