First Report of Heterocapsa minima (Dinophyceae) from Aotearoa/ New Zealand Small planktonic armoured dinoflagellates within the genus Heterocapsa are currently represented by 20 species with some having a world-wide distribution [1-2]. Blooms of some Heterocapsa species have been associated with fish kills due to oxygen deficiency or oversaturation. Toxicity by H. circularisquama has also been reported, with blooms causing tremendous damage to bivalve species [3-4]). Heterocapsa triquetra is one of the most common red tide species around the world [1]. Recently, Tillmann et al. [2] proposed a new species, H. steinii, for a taxon that has been known as H. triquetra [5]. It is therefore important to elucidate the diversity and distribution of Heterocapsa species and to understand their potential adverse impacts in coastal areas. In Aotearoa/New Zealand, a nearshore red-tide bloom of a Heterocapsa species at Pukehina Beach, Bay of Plenty on 10 December 2003 was associated with swimmers complaining of skin irritations [6] (Site 3 in Fig. 1). Previous studies identified and reported four Heterocapsa species from New Zealand based on the results of morphological characterisations of clonal strains (Sites 1, 2, and 3 in Fig. 1) [7]: H. cf. circularisquama, H. illdefina, and H. niei from the subtropical zone [6,8] and H. steinii (previously H. triquetra) from the temperate zone [7]. However, the diversity of Heterocapsa species in the temperate zone of New Zealand has not been well elucidated. In the present study, seawater samples were collected from two sampling sites from the South Island and three sampling sites from Stewart Island of New Zealand which are within the temperate zone (Fig. 1): Site 4 (Wedge Point, Marlborough; -41.2578, 174.0116) on 12 December 2018, Site 5 (Akaroa, Canterbury; -43.8048, 172.9653) on 18 October 2018, Sites 68 [Site 6 (Halfmoon Bay; -46.8968, 168.1305), Site 7 (Golden Bay Wharf; -46.9041, 168.1216), and Site 8 (Big Glory Bay; -46.9793, 168.1099), Stewart Island, Southland] on 02 September 2018. The samples were collected by hose sampling at 8 Fig. 1. Summary of the geographic distribution of Heterocapsa species in coastal areas of New Zealand. Circles represent the sampling sites of clonal strains (white: previous studies, grey: previous and present studies, dark grey: the present study). 1[8], 2[6], 3[7], 4The present study. 1,2 Strains of H. niei and H. illdefina were identified by electron microscope examination of thecal plate structure and scale morphology. A strain of H. cf. circularis quama was identified by electron microscope examination of thecal plate structure alone. 3A strain of H. steinii was identified by light microscope examination alone. 4Strains of H. minima and H. steinii were identified by ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Site 1: Kerikeri, Northland. Site 2: Bream Bay, Northland. Site 3: Pukehina Beach, Bay of Plenty. Site 4: Wedge Point, Marlborough. Site 5: Akaroa, Canterbury. Sites 68: Site 6, Halfmoon Bay; Site 7, Golden Bay Wharf; Site 8, Big Glory Bay; Stewart Island, Southland. The potential boundary between the subtropical and temperate zones is reported by National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research [15]. 015 m depths at Site 4 and from surface seawater at Sites 58. Heterocapsa cells were observed under an inverted light microscope (LM), isolated in f/2 medium to establish clonal strains, and incubated at 18 C and 90 μmol photons m2s1 under a 12:12 L/D cycle. A total of 16 clonal strains were established: one from Site 4, four from Site 5, and three from Site 6 (Halfmoon Bay), three from Site 7 (Golden Bay Wharf), and five from Site 8 (Big Glory Bay) in Stewart Island. The cells of the strain from Site 4 were smaller than those from Sites 58 (data not shown). The cells of strains from Sites 58 showed the same morphology under LM (data not shown). Therefore, three representative strains were selected for molecular phylogenetic identifications: strains CAWD302 (Site 4), CAk01H (Site 5), and SSB03H (Site 8). Genomic DNA of the three strains was extracted, and the D1/ D3 region of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rDNA) was amplified and sequenced as previously described [9]. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted using maximum likelihood (ML) and neighbour-joining (NJ) methods. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that two strains, CAk01H and SSB03H, belonged to the species H. steinii (Fig. 2). The sequences of these two strains were identical to those of strain UTKG7 (GenBank accession numbers: MF423357 and MF423361) that corresponds to the type material of this species. Strain CAWD302 belonged to species H. minima (Fig. 2). The sequence of CAWD302 was identical to those of strains JK2 and HMMJ1604 (GenBank accession numbers: KF031312 and MK483261, respectively). Previous studies in New Zealand have reported three Heterocapsa species (H. cf. circularisquama, H. illdefina, and H. niei) from the subtropical zone [6,8]. The present study has revealed presence of two additional species: H. minima from Site 4 and H. steinii from Sites 5 and 8 in the temperate zone. Using molecular phylogenetic methods, the present study supports the previous finding of H. steinii (previously H. triquetra), identified by morphology as described above, from Site 5 [7] (Fig. 2). The present study is the first report of H. minima from New Zealand. Furthermore, it indicates that Heterocapsa species composition may be different in the subtropical and temperate zones of New Zealand (Fig. 2). Regarding the distribution of H. minima, this species was first described by morphological characterization without molecular phylogenetic data from the Celtic Sea in the temperate North Atlantic Ocean in 1989 [10]. In 2001, abundance data of H. minima were reported in the fixed samples collected from the Bay of Biscay, North Spain in HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 64 / 2020 Harmful Algae News An IOC Newsletter on Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms No. 64 - June 2020 www.ioc-unesco.org/hab The IOC Taxonomic Reference List of Harmful Microalgae The creation of the IOC Taxonomic Reference List of Harmful Microalgae was first discussed 23 years ago at the Fourth Session of the ever the information presented in publications is not always easy to interpret. Toxic blooms often contain several species and studies on individual species are therefore required to determine the species responsible for the toxin production. In addition, species are sometimes difficult to identify considered this to be identical to the previously described P. mexicanum [9]. This statement makes little sense, and Loeblich et al in fact do not mention P. mexicanum in their article. Faust [8] illustrated material which resembled P. rhathymum using the radical arrangement of some of the trichocys Massive salmon mortalities during a Chrysochromulina leadbeateri bloom in Northern Norway From mid May to mid June 2019, fish farmers along the coast of Nordland and Troms, northern Norway, experienced sudden mortalities of caged salmon [1] (Fig. 1). These mortalities were assumed to be due to a blo Fish kill in numbers [2] 13 000 ton fish 7.5 mill salmon 80 mill EUR 14 companies Fig. 2. Map of Norway showing the area where the Chrysochromulina leadbeateri bloom occurred causing massive fish kills in May-June 2019 References 1. Fiskeridirektoratet 2019. https:// www.fiskeridir.no/Akvakult Mass mortality of marine invertebrates associated with the presence of yessotoxins in northern Chile Fig. 1. Map of the study area showing A) Chilean coast; B) Pabellón de Pica, Tarapacá Region C) Bahía Inglesa, Atacama Region; D) Puerto Aldea, Coquimbo Region During the austral summer of 2019, ma research is needed to determine the mechanism of action and the toxin effects on tissues and cells of the main affected species. Finally, there is a need to establish an educational plan to protect the public and avoid the consumption and commercialization of potentially toxic marine invertebrates. First Report of Heterocapsa minima (Dinophyceae) from Aotearoa/ New Zealand Small planktonic armoured dinoflagellates within the genus Heterocapsa are currently represented by 20 species with some having a world-wide distribution [1-2]. Blooms of some Heterocapsa species have been associated with fi Fig. 2. Maximum likelihood (ML) molecular phylogenetic tree of Heterocapsa minima and H. steinii strains isolated from coastal areas of New Zealand based on the LSU rDNA D1/ D2 sequences (20 sequences, 700 positions). The alignment site corresponded to the 69768 bp site of a sequence from H. steinii Yellow-green tides could become a recurrent event along the Ligurian coast (Italy) Fig. 1. A) Sestri Levante and Baia del Silenzio bay, characterized by shallow water and mixed rocky-sandy seabed containing the macrophyte, Posidonia oceanica (dark grey) and carpet-like matte (light grey) habitat. B First report of a high biomass bloom of Peridinium quadridentatum (F. Stein) Gert Hansen from the tropical Cochin estuary SW coast of India Fig. 1. Map showing the area of P. quadridentatum bloom in Cochin estuary, southwest coast of India Peridinium quadridentatum (F. Stein) Gert Hansen is a cos Table 1. Physico-chemical parameters of P. quadridentatum bloom area in Cochin Estuary Parameters Water Temperature (oC) Salinity (psu) Dissolved Oxygen (ml L-1) Nitrate (μmol L-1) Silicate (μmol L-1) Phosphate (μmol L-1) Chlorophyll a (mg m-3) 28 20 2.01 10.6 23.3 1.3 27.5 higher turbidity, lowe Are mesophotic seamounts reservoirs for potentially toxic dinoflagellates associated with Ciguatera poisoning? A case study from the SW Indian ocean (expédition La Pérouse, 2019) Fig. 1. Location map of La Pérouse seamount off La Réunion. In the western Indian Ocean, a Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CF Using Machine Learning to Observe Abundance Patterns of the Dino flagellate Noctiluca scintillans in the Western English Channel Noctiluca scintillans is a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species with a wide geographic distribution. It frequently blooms and causes negative impacts on marine ecosystems [1] References 1. Sarma VVSS et al 2019. Mar Pollut Bull 138: 428-436 2. Faust MA & RA Gulledge 2002. Contributions for the US National Herbarium 42: 1-144 3. Graham MD et al 2018. Limnol Oceanogr-Meth 16: 669-679 Author Christian Bamber, The Marine Biological Association, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB International validation and recognition of method for paralytic shellfish toxins in bivalve molluscs Food safety scientists from Cefas (UK) and Cawthron Institute (New Zealand) have led an international study over the past four years to gain international recognition for a new method to quantify pa Aotearoa/New Zealands nationally significant Cawthron Institute Culture Collection of Microalgae (CICCM) The CICCM is critical to international research projects and the 500 isolates of microalgae and cyanobacteria in the collection have been sourced from oceans, lakes and rivers in New Zealand, the The 11th EASTHAB Symposium and 4th Philippine HAB Conference The 11th EASTHAB Symposium and 4th Philippine HAB Conference were held back-to-back from December 11 13, 2019 at the Microtel Hotel, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the Philippines. The theme was Advances in Harmful Algal Bloom Research, Monito Fig. 1. Participants in the 11th EASTHAB Symposium/4th Philippine HAB Conference Fig. 2. Department of Science and Technology secretary Fortunato dela Peña with the keynote, plenary speakers and local organizing committee leads. Left to right: Dr. Ichiro Imai, representative of the Vice Mayor of Pu The ICES-IOC Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics 2020 Meeting The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) have collaborated closely for 26 years, stimulating research on HAB population dynamics and monit Fig. 2. Shared day between ICES-IOC WGHABD, ICES-IOC WGBOSV and ICES WGITMO ences using molecular methods as well as results from studies in Arctic areas. These studies presented data on HAB and invasive non-native species present in Arctic waters. A USA study focused on the distribution, community Typical benthic habitat with macroalgae and limestone rubble observed at ~ 60m depth on La Pérouse seamount, Indian Ocean (Photo courtesy of L. Ballesta). Eds-in-chief Beatriz Reguera, IEO, Vigo, Spain Eilen Bresnan, Marine Scotland, UK Regional Editors Caribbean: Ernesto Mancera jemancerap@unal.e