Effects of temperature, salinity and irradiance on the growth of the toxic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum (Dinophyceae) isolated from Hiroshima Bay, Japan

Abstract

Temperature and salinity ranges in which Gymnodinium catenatum (Hiroshima Bay strain) showed specific growth rates higher than 0.2/day were approximately 20-30°C and 20-32. The specific growth rate (μ), expressed as a polynomial equation as functions of temperature (T; °C) and salinity (S) were μ=(-6.84×10-4T2+0.0354T-0.213)×(-1.03×10-3S2+0.0579S-0.548)/0.31; the maximum growth rate (0.31/day) was obtained at 25°C and 30. From a comparison with field data recording temperature, salinity and light intensity, this species may be expected to bloom from summer to autumn in Hiroshima Bay.