A survey of BHAB assemblages utilizing the artificial substrate method in Rawa Island, Malaysia Benthic dinoflagellates are marine tychoplanktonic inhabitants on the natural substrates of coral reefs in tropical and subtropical coastal wa- ters. These dinoflagellates are associ- ated with their prefered natural habi- tats 1,2. Some of these species are known as bioactive compound produc- ers. The compounds (e.g. ciguatoxin) may accumulate in reef fishes via the food web. To assess benthic harmful algae (BHAB) assemblages in tropical coral reefs, we selected a fringing reef, Rawa Island, on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The island is an ideal study site due to its abundance and diversity of coral reefs and other tropical marine resources. The fringing reef is covered with various types of hard corals, i.e. staghorn corals, table corals, cabbage corals (Fig. 1). At deeper water, large patches of soft corals (e.g. mushroom corals), sponge and giant clams are found. Nonetheless, some parts of the reefs appear severely disturbed, and coral rubbles there are covered with macrophytes. The co-occurrence of both pristine and disturbed reefs areas around the island makes it an ideal site for comparative studies to investigate the effect of anthropogenic activities on coral reefs and the associated BHAB communities. Sampling of benthic dinoflagellates at Rawa Island was conducted month- ly using the artificial substrate method (Fig. 2) 3,4. This study focuses on five dinoflagellate genera: Gambierdiscus, Ostreopsis, Prorocentrum, Coolia, and Amphidinium 2-4. BHAB species were observed and identified under a light microscope (Fig. 3). Ostreopsis spp. were predominant in most samples, with a maximal cell density of 11,000 cells/100 cm 2 . This study provides an important baseline data of BHABs in the western Pacif- ic region, in par- ticular on species composition and distribution in re- lation to their hab- itat preferences. Fig.1. Map of Rawa Island and the common coral communities. HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 54 / 2016 Fig. 2. Artificial substrate deployed under- water. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Ma- laysian government through its Minis- try of Science, Technology and Innova- tion, Science Fund 04-01-03-SF1010. The authors are grateful to Drs Patricia Tester and Wayne Litaker (NOAA), who inspired this work during the 2012 GEOHAB International Training Work- shop on the Ecology and Taxonomy of Benthic Dinoflagellates. References 1. Tester PA et al 2014. Harmful Algae 39: 8-25 2. Tan TH et al 2013. Mar Res Indonesia 38: 11-21 3. Tindall DR & SL Morton 1998. In: Anderson DM et al (eds) Physiological Ecology of Harmful Algal Bloom. NATO ASI series vol. 41, pp 293-314 4. Vila M et al 2001. Aquat Microbial Ecol. 26:51-60 Authors Hwa Lin Yong, Nurin Izzati Mustapa, Toh Hii Tan, Zhen Fei Lim, Li Keat Lee, Po Teen Lim, Chui Pin Leaw, Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sci- ences, University of Malaya, Bachok, 13610 Kelantan, Malaysia. Email: cpleawum.edu.my Fig. 3. Benthic dinoflagellates from Rawa Island. (A) Gam- bierdiscus sp. (B) Ostreopsis sp. (C) Prorocentrum sp. (D) Amphidinium sp. (E) Coolia sp. Scale bars, 20 μm. 7 Harmful Algae News An IOC Newsletter on Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms No. 54 - August 2016 www.ioc-unesco.org/hab Exceptional climate anomalies and north wards expansion of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning outbreaks in Southern Chile Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), in partic- ular recurrent events of the P 6. Díaz PA et al. 2014. Harmful Algae 40: 9-22 7. Molinet C et al 2003. Rev Chil Hist Nat 76: 681-698 Authors Cristina Hernández, Laboratorio Salud Pública, Seremi de Salud Región de Los Lagos, Crucero 1915, Puerto Montt, Chile Fig. 2. Evolution of the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) from 1950 to 2016. e Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms in southern Cuba during anomalous hot dry seasons (average depth, 1.2 m) estu- ary fed by the Arimao River. This wetland is on the south- west of the semi-enclosed Bay of Cienfuegos (southern Cuba) and connected to it by a single channel. The area is subject to two periods (April/May 2005 and January 2015) 8-9. During the 2015, a bloom of C. polykrikoides was also recorded in channels of a small marina from Hava- na, north-western Cuba, in September, without apparent damage to marine life 10. Acknowledgements Fig. 2. C. polykrikoides (A) and dead blue crabs (C Is Ciguatera moving south in Australia? Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) is well- known in tropical regions around the world, including the Pacific. The illness occurs through the consumption of fish that have accumulated naturally occur- ring ciguatoxins (CTXs) produced by the dinoflagellate genus Ga ic CTX) 8. The illnesses occurred be- tween February and April each year in NSW (Fig 1), coinciding with the peak Spanish mackerel fishing season. There is an apparent southern expansion of the geographic range of CFP along the east coast of Australia (Fig. 1). The catch locations of the fish from t A survey of BHAB assemblages utilizing the artificial substrate method in Rawa Island, Malaysia Benthic dinoflagellates are marine tychoplanktonic inhabitants on the natural substrates of coral reefs in tropical and subtropical coastal wa- ters. These dinoflagellates are associ- ated with their pref Annual variability of Prorocentrum lima and abiotic factors in Chengue Bay, T ayrona National Park, Colombian Caribbean Fig. 1. Study area where samples of Thalassia testudinum were collected. Chengue Bay (black star), Tayrona National Park, Colombian Caribbean Prorocentrum lima is a cosmopolitan s del Mar -CECIMAR (sede Caribe) y Pro- grama de Postgrados en Biología - Línea Biología Marina ( contribution 430 ). Thanks also to the Banco Español de Algas de Gran Canaria, in particular to Mr. E. Soler Onis, and to the Jardin Bo- tánico Canario Viera y Clavijo for sup- port with the SEM, and to t Training Workshop on the Culturing and Identification of Benthic Harmful Marine Dinoflagellates A Training Workshop on the Culturing and Identification of Benthic Harmful Marine Dinoflagellates was held in the State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollu- tion (SKLMP), City University of Hong Kong between 1 Fig. 1. Participants in the workshop at the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, 14-21 June, 2016. Fig. 2. Demonstrating basic techniques in BHAB culturing (Po Teen Lim, Chung-Kuang Lu, Chui Pin Leaw and the participants). HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 54 / 2016 11 Regional Training Course on Identifica tion of Harmful Algal Bloom Species in the ASEAN Region, Singapore, 18 th -22 nd July 2016 Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can cause major environmental disturbances, severe economic loss to industries, fisheries and tourism, and also pose significant health risks Participants were encouraged to orga- nize local or regional training courses to train more experts on harmful algae identification. The IOC WESTPAC-HAB working group shall assist local groups in training their local community by sending suitable trainers to the training workshop and by providing te ASIMUTH special issue of Harmful Algae The European Commission (EC) 7th Framework Programme (FP7) project Applied Simulations and Integrated Modelling for the Understanding of Toxic and Harmful Algal Blooms (ASI- MUTH) ran from 2010-2013. It involved 11 partners from Portu- gal, Spain, France, Irela Last News on the 17 th ICHA The local and international organizing committees are busily planning the 17 th International Conference on Harmful Algae (17 th ICHA), in Florianopolis, Bra- zil from 9 th -14 th October 2016. For the first time in history, Latin America will host the conference and is l Forthcoming events Seafood Safety: New Findings & Innovation Challenges Brussels, 25-26 January 2017 Deadline for registration: 15 January 2017 (early bird 25 November 2016). Abstract submission deadline: 15 October 2016. www.ecsafeseafoodconference.com 11th International Conference on Modern and Fo