This volume covers the freshwater dinoflagellates of the world and comprises 350 species. It serves as a reference work for identifying freshwater dinoflagellates by providing keys, detailed descriptions, and illustrations for all described species. The illustrations are based on old and classic descriptions and drawings that were combined with more recent figures. The introductory chapters comprise the history of dinoflagellate research, cell structure, ecology (by K. Rengefors and A. Kremp) and cell culturing (by G. Hansen). Taxonomic studies of dinoflagellates began at the time of early light microscopists, and modern studies have shown that long-held views on the taxonomy are often unsatisfactory. Two new orders, Amphidiniales and Tovelliales, three new families, Amphidiniaceae, Gyrodiniaceae and Sphaerodiniaceae, and two new genera, Matvienkoella and Speroidium, are proposed. Seven new species and one new variety are described. Four new names and 80 new combinations are established.

Dinoflagellates are common unicellular organisms found in all types of aquatic ecosystems and are important contributors to freshwater ecosystems as significant primary producers of biomass. Despite increasing interest in the biology of living and fossil dinoflagellates, there has been no compilation of dinoflagellate species found in North America since 1934, and no keys to species. In Freshwater Dinoflagellates of North America, Susan Carty provides a much-needed taxonomic guide covering Canada, the United States, Mexico, all of Central America, the Caribbean, and Greenland. Features of the book include • identification of dinoflagellate species, • distribution maps of species, • ecological and morphological keys to genera, • key to species within genus, • lists of references by location, • glossary, and • an extensive illustration program. Following an introductory section on the biology, morphology, and ecology of freshwater dinoflagellates, the species are presented in a field guide format with distribution maps, written descriptions emphasizing notable features, line drawings, and black-and-white and color micrographs.

This volume provides an overview of current research on fossil and modern dinoflagellates, as well as highlighting research areas for future collaboration, following the DINO9 International Conference in Liverpool. The volume is organized into four themes, with a review paper for each theme written by the key-note speaker. Each theme also includes a future research foci note following discussion during the conference. The contributions are organized into the following sections: environmental change, ecology/palaeoecology, life cycles and diversity, and stratigraphy and evolution. Also included are notes from two workshops: culture experiments and dinocysts as palaeoceanographic tracers. This volume will be of interest to both the biological and micropalaeontological communities.

Dinoflagellates are fascinating protists, mostly unicellular, distributed in environments ranging from the polar to tropical seas, hypersaline, coastal, estuarine and oceanic waters. There are about 2,377 dinoflagellate species recognized. They exhibit a great diversity of shape, size, biochemical composition and physiological characteristics. Generally free floating, dinoflagellates are photosynthetic, a few species such as the Symbodinium are symbiotic, living in corals, while a few are parasitic.This volume presents a discussion on dinoflagellate phylogeny based on recent developments in molecular biology. It provides insights into the similarity of pigment composition with other microalgae. A comprehensive coverage of their carbon assimilation rates is presented, which appear to be low compared to other microalgae. Besides photosynthetic assimilation, an interesting aspect of acquiring carbon is through mixotrophy which appears to be wide spread amongst dinoflagellates and a thorough discussion is presented. Key features of this book include recent methods of culturing dinoflagellates, which can serve as analogues of their blooms in understanding their physiology, biochemistry and production of phycotoxins. This book, based on massive data collected over decades of research, provides an informative overview on the spatial and temporal distribution and dispersal of dinoflagellates by ocean currents, ballast water introductions and climate changes.About 70 species of dinoflagellates are implicated in the production of ephemeral harmful algal blooms (HABs), which are on the increase globally. Based on several case studies, a comprehensive coverage of the phycotoxins produced by HAB species (PSP, DSP, ASP, Ciguatera, NSP) is presented. The adverse effects of phycotoxins on human health, and the loss of revenues ($50 million in the USA) due to fish kills are evaluated. Latest advances in the methodology of genomics are presented with a view to highlight their importance and to understand their linkage with phycotoxin production. A discussion of remediation measures to manage HABs is presented, which would be highly useful in aquaculture operations. This book provides a large number of illustrations, microphotographs and color photographs. It is ideal for any audience requiring an in-depth exposure to current issues, ideas and methods used in dinoflagellate studies. The topics discussed serve as a useful reference to researchers, scientists, environmental managers, undergraduate and graduate students.

The genus Esoptrodinium Javornicky is a freshwater, athecate, phagotrophic dinoflagellate possessing an incomplete cingulum that has a confused taxonomic history with varying reports on cingulum direction as well as the presence or absence of chloroplasts and an eyespot. Six isolates were collected from different freshwater ponds, brought into clonal culture, and examined for reported diversity, feeding behavior, mixotrophy, and potential loss of phototrophy. Light microscopy was used to determine major cytological differences, and nuclear rDNA sequences were compared to determine relatedness and overall phylogenetic position within the dinoflagellates. Feeding behavior was observed using light microscopy, and mixotrophic potential was determined by measuring population growth in light versus darkness, both with and without food present. Isolates were examined for endogenous chloroplast possession by measuring chlorophyll auto-fluorescence and assaying for the psbA gene. All isolates were athecate with a left-oriented cingulum that did not fully encircle the cell, corresponding to the current taxonomic concept of Esoptrodinium. All isolates were phagotrophic and four of six contained visible chloroplasts. Two isolates lacked obvious chloroplasts, appearing to be solely phagotrophic. Nuclear rDNA phylogenies strongly supported a monophyletic Esoptrodinium clade containing all isolates from this study together with a previous sequence from Portugal, within the family Tovelliaceae. The isolates lacking obvious chloroplasts were not monophyletic, and one shared an identical nuclear rDNA sequence with three isolates containing visible chloroplasts. Esoptrodinium phagocytized cryptomonads whole through a modified peduncle associated with the ventral side of the episome in a manner unique among reported dinoflagellate feeding mechanisms. It ingested a variety of algal species but preferred photosynthetic cryptomonads. All isolates required food and light to grow (obligate phagotrophy and obligate phototrophy, respectively), but only isolates with visible chloroplasts benefited from light in terms of increased population biomass, indicating they are obligate mixotrophs. Isolates lacking obvious chloroplasts received no population biomass increase from light, but nevertheless required it to grow (i.e. photo-obligate but not phototrophic). Isolates with chloroplasts contained a peridinoid-type psbA sequence, whereas one isolate that lacked obvious chloroplasts contained an apparent loss-of-function mutation in psbA, indicating the presence of non-photosynthetic plastids. The other strain that lacked obvious chloroplasts did not contain an amplifiable psbA sequence. These results demonstrate mixotrophy quantitatively for the first time in a freshwater dinoflagellate, as well as within-clade phototrophic loss along with mutations that correlate with that phenotype. Mixotrophy and chloroplast presence/absence are usually not variable traits within a dinoflagellate species, suggesting Esoptrodinium represents a diverse species complex.