Abstract
The vertical distribution of Gonyaulax polyedra, Ceratium furca, Gymnodinium sp., Ceratium dens, Gonyaulax digitale, Prorocentrum micans, Polykrikos kofoidii, and Peridinium depressum was followed during two 36 h time-series stations, off the Baja California coast. Water samples were taken at 6 h intervals, at 7 light penetration depths, for phytoplankton identification and for chemical and biological analysis. The results indicate that the dinoflagellates were able to perform vertical migration against the physical water movements, such as upwelling internal waves and wind mixing, that existed in the area during this study. Attempts to correlate the vertical dstribution of the dinoflagellates with the seawater density and nitrate distribution lead to the conclusion that even a weak density gradient acted as a barrier to the downward migration, and that nitrate assimilation in darkness was not required for their growth. Differences in the vertical distribution at 12.00 hrs of each species supports the hypothesis that migration is of a phototactic nature. A comparison of this study with previous ones on vertical migration in other areas suggests that a species should not be defined in general as a positive or negative phototactic organism, but that the direction of the migration is related to the light intensity at the sea surface.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Literature Cited
Blasco, D.: Composition and distribution of phytoplankton in the region of upwelling off the coast of Peru. Investigación pesq. 35, 61–112 (1971)
—: Red tide in the upwelling region of Baja California. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22, 255–263 (1977)
Braarud, T.: The ecology of taxonomic groups and species of phytoplankton related to their distribution patterns in a fjord area. Sarsia 40, 41–62 (1976)
Dong-Ping Wang and J.J. Walsh: Objective analysis of the upwelling ecosystem of Baja California. J. mar. Res. 34, 43–60 (1976)
Eppley, R.W. and W.G. Harrison: Physiological ecology of Gonyaulax polyedra, a red water dinoflagellate of southern California. In: Proceedings of First International Conference on Toxic Dinoflagellate Blooms, 1974, pp 11–23. Ed. by V.R. LoCicero. Wakefield, Mass.: Massachusetts Technology Foundation 1975
—, O. Holm-Hansen and J.D.H. Strickland: Some observations on the vertical migration of dinoflagellates. J. Phycol. 4, 333–340 (1968)
Halldal, P.: Action spectra of phototaxis and related problems in volvocales, Ulva-gametes and dinophyceae. Physiologia Pl. 12, 742–752 (1958)
Hand, W.G., P.A. Collard and D. Davenport: The effects of temperature and salinity changes on swimming rate in the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax and Gyrodinium. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 128, 90–101 (1965)
Hasle, G.R.: Phototactic vertical migration in marine dinoflagellates. Oikos 2, 162–176 (1950)
— More on phototactic diurnal migration in marine dinoflagellates. Nytt Mag. Bot. 2, 139–147 (1954)
Holmes, R.W., R.M. Williams and R.W. Eppley: Red water in La Jolla Bay (1964–1966). Limnol. Oceanogr. 12, 503–512 (1967)
Kamykowski, D.: Possible interactions between phytoplankton and semidiurnal internal tides. J. mar. Res. 32, 67–89 (1974)
— and S. Zentara: The diurnal vertical migration of motile phytoplankton through temperature gradients. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22, 148–152 (1977)
Kiefer, D.A. and R. Lasker: Two blooms of Gymnodinium splendens, an unarmored dinoflagellate. Fish. Bull. U.S. 73, 675–678 (1975)
MacIsaac, J.J.: Diel cycles of inorganic nitrogen uptake in a natural phytoplankton population dominated by Gonyaulax polyedra. Limnol. Oceanogr. (In press)
Seliger, H.H., J.H. Carpenter, M. Loftus, W.H. Biggley and W.D. McElroy: Bioluminescence and phytoplankton succession in Bahia Fosforescente, Puerto Rico. Limnol. Oceanogr. 16, 608–622 (1971)
— and W.D. McElroy: Mechanisms for the accumulation of high concentrations of dinoflagellates in a bioluminescent bay. Limnol. Oceanogr. 15, 234–245 (1970)
—, M.E. Loftus and D.V. Subba Rao: Dinoflagellate accumulations in Chesapeake Bay. In: Proceedings of First International Conference on Toxic Dinoflagellate Blooms, 1974,pp 181–207. Ed. by V.R. LoCicero. Wakefield, Mass.: Massachusetts Science Technology Foundation 1975
Utermöhl, H.: Zur Vervollkommnung der quantitativen Phytoplankton-Methodik. Verh. int. Verein. theor. angew. Limnol. 17, 47–71 (1958)
Walsh, J.J., J.C. Kelley, T.E. Whitledge, J.J. MacIsaac and S.A. Huntsman: Spin-up of the Baja California upwelling ecosystem. Limnol. Oceanogr. 19, 553–572 (1974)
Wyatt, T. and J. Horwood: Model which generates red tides. Nature, Lond. 244, 238–240 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by M.R. Tripp, Newark
Contribution No. 77-004 of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor, Matne 04575, USA.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Blasco, D. Observations on the diel migration of marine dinoflagellates off the Baja California coast. Mar. Biol. 46, 41–47 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393819
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393819