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 strain UTKG7 (clone 1, MF423356). The ML and neighbour joining (NJ) phylogenies were analysed using the best-fit models, GTR+G+I and TN93+G models, respectivelywith bootstrap analyses performed with 1,000 replicates. Sequences obtained in the present study are shown in blue and red font. Sequences corresponding to the type material of each species are shown in bold font. Nodal support represents ML/NJ bootstrap values. Nodal supports that were under 50 are shown as hyphens. Nodes that were not present in the NJ tree are labelled as np. the temperate North Atlantic. However, details of morphological and molecular characterisations were not reported [11]. In 2009, H. minima strain JK2 was established from Bantry Bay, Southwest Ireland in the temperate North Atlantic, potentially representing the same water mass as the type locality of H. minima [10], and identified by a combination of morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses [12]. Recently, in 2016, a H. minima strain HMMJ1604, was established and identified by molecular and morphological analyses from Mijo Port, South Sea of Korea in the temperate North Pacific. This finding was the first report of this species from the Pacific [13]. Therefore, the present study is the second record of H. minima from the Pacific region and suggests that this species is widely distributed in the temperate zone of the Atlantic and Pacific. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first record of this species from the Southern Hemisphere. In previous studies reporting the occurrence and abundance of H. minima cells [10-11,13], it was stated that this species occurred throughout the year HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 64 / 2020 and was widely distributed in the Celtic Sea and Korean waters [10,13]. Because the cell morphologies of Heterocapsa spp. are superficially similar in size, shape and swimming mode to other small dinoflagellates (e.g., Azadinium and Biecheleria) under LM observation, it is difficult to differentiate them and high magnification microscopy or molecular tools are required [14,7]. Therefore, the determination of accurate cell concentrations of these taxa from routine samples used for phytoplankton monitoring is difficult. For example, the New Zealand Marine Phytoplankton Monitoring Programme reports these cell types as cf. Azadinium spp. (= Azadinium-like species) to provide a conservative report of potentially toxic species [9]. In the present study, the H. minima strain CAWD302 was isolated from a seawater sample collected at Site 4 on 12 December 2018, from which a cell density of 6,000 cells/L of cf. Azadinium spp. was reported. In addition to H. minima, two clonal strains of Biecheleria spp. strains MB11 and CAWD304 (GenBank accession numbers: LC542926 and LC542925, respectively) were also isolated from the samples collected at Site 4 on 5 and 12, December 2018, respectively. To resolve this issue for H. minima, Lee et al. [13] developed a species-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) method to detect and quantify cells from the Korean seawater samples. To reveal the accurate distribution of H. minima, applying rDNA sequencing and/or qPCR to isolated strains or seawater samples collected from the other climate zones (e.g., tropical, subtropical, and/or subboreal zones), as well as other temperate areas is required. Additionally, toxin and/or toxicity assessments are also needed to further elucidate the potential impacts of this species. Acknowledgements We are grateful to the Ministry of Primary Industries for allowing the use of samples for research purposes, and to Tony Bui and Catherine Moisan (Cawthron Institute Natural Toxins laboratory) for phytoplankton notifications and access to samples. Funding for this research was from the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (Seafood Safety programme, Contract No. CAWX1801; National Databases contract No. CAWX0902). M. Balci was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey under a TUBITAK-BIDEB-2219-International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (Grant no: 1059B191800400) during the present study at the Cawthron Institute. T. Nishimura was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Overseas Research Fellowship. References 1. Iwataki M 2008. Plankton Benthos Res 3(3): 135142 2. Tillmann U et al 2017a. J Phycol 53(6): 13051324 3. Kim D et al 2000. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 64(12): 27192722 4. Zingone A & T Wyatt 2005. In: The sea: ideas and observations on progress in the study of the seas, pp 867926 5. Gottschling M et al 2018. Taxon 67(3): 632633 6. MacKenzie L et al 2004a. XIth International Conference on Harmful Algal Blooms, Cape Town, South Africa, 14-19 November 2004 7. Rhodes LL et al 2019. NZ J Mar & Freshw Res 54(1): 86101 8. MacKenzie AL et al 2004b. In: Proceedings of the New Zealand Marine Biotoxin Workshop NZFSA, Wellington, New Zealand, 10 December 2004 9. Smith KF et al 2016. J Appl Phycol 28(2): 11251132 10. Pomroy AJ 1989. Br Phycol J 24(2):131 135 11. Iriarte A 2003. Aquat Microb Ecol 31(2): 145161 12. Salas R et al 2014. Eur J Phycol 49(4): 413428 13. Lee SY et al 2019. Algae 34(1): 721 14. Tillmann U et al 2017b. J Plankton Res 39(2): 350367 15. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research 2020. Map North. Northern New Zealand. (available online: https://niwa.co.nz/education-andtraining/schools/resources/climate/ overview/map_north) Authors Muharrem Balci, Istanbul University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 34134 Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey. Tomohiro Nishimura, Kirsty F. Smith, Lesley L. Rhodes, J. Sam Murray & A. Lincoln MacKenzie, Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, Nelson 7012, New Zealand. Co-first authors contributed equally to this work. Emails corresponding authors: muharrem.balci@istanbul.edu.tr tomohiro.nishimura@cawthron.org.nz 9 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