The aim of this work was to test if salinity is the driving factor for size and physiological differences in the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum cordatum. Three strains, isolated from three sites with different salinities: the central Baltic Sea (Sweden, salinity 8), Chesapeake Bay (Maryland, USA; salinity 16), and the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy; salinity 32), were included in this study. Following their molecular and morphological characterisation, the specific growth rates and dimensions were examined for each strain cultivated at all the three salinities (i.e., 8, 16 and 32). The Adriatic strain showed always the largest cells and the Baltic strain the smallest. Adriatic and American strains showed lower specific growth rates at salinity 8 and highestat salinity 16. The Baltic strain growth rates were similar at all salinities. As salinity 16 proved to be optimal for the strains, additional parameters were further compared at this salinity: cell volume, particulate organic carbon, particulate nitrogen, delayed fluorescence and in-vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence. The Adriatic strain had the highest particulate organic carbon, particulate nitrogen, delayed and in-vivo fluorescence. Conversely, the Baltic strain had the lowest values. Although the strains had different specific growth rates in respect to the salinity, this was not the main driving factor for the different sizes and photosynthetic activity among the strains. Thus, although there was low genetic variability among strains from the three geographical areas, intraspecific variability was suggested.

Influence of salinity on growth and cell volume in three strains of prorocentrum cordatum (Dinophyceae)

Beran A.;Cataletto B.;
2019-01-01

Abstract

The aim of this work was to test if salinity is the driving factor for size and physiological differences in the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum cordatum. Three strains, isolated from three sites with different salinities: the central Baltic Sea (Sweden, salinity 8), Chesapeake Bay (Maryland, USA; salinity 16), and the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy; salinity 32), were included in this study. Following their molecular and morphological characterisation, the specific growth rates and dimensions were examined for each strain cultivated at all the three salinities (i.e., 8, 16 and 32). The Adriatic strain showed always the largest cells and the Baltic strain the smallest. Adriatic and American strains showed lower specific growth rates at salinity 8 and highestat salinity 16. The Baltic strain growth rates were similar at all salinities. As salinity 16 proved to be optimal for the strains, additional parameters were further compared at this salinity: cell volume, particulate organic carbon, particulate nitrogen, delayed fluorescence and in-vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence. The Adriatic strain had the highest particulate organic carbon, particulate nitrogen, delayed and in-vivo fluorescence. Conversely, the Baltic strain had the lowest values. Although the strains had different specific growth rates in respect to the salinity, this was not the main driving factor for the different sizes and photosynthetic activity among the strains. Thus, although there was low genetic variability among strains from the three geographical areas, intraspecific variability was suggested.
2019
Prorocentrum cordatum; Salinity; Growth rate
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14083/1870
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