Identification, purification and morphological study of dinoflagellate species with red tide potential in Chabahar Bay (Sea of Oman) in the summer of 2020

Dinoflagellates are the largest group of marine microalgae after diatoms, and many of them cause harmful blooms. Identifying susceptible areas to form Harmful blooming can be effective in taking timely action to prevent or reduce its risks, extensive environmental and economic damage to the ecosystem. In this study, the presence and morphological identification of dinoflagellates causing red tide in the Chabahar Bay in the summer of 2020 has been investigated. A sampling of seawater was performed by sterile one-liter bottles from 5 stations on the coast of Chabahar port in North part of Sea of Oman. In the laboratory, species were identified, purified. Imaging was performed using a Nikon 50I microscope and KE Keview 3.7 imaging software, and species were identified to species level with the available references. A total of 15 species of dinoflagellates and 22 species of diatoms were recorded. The purified species were transferred to a petri dish containing F2 medium for further study and stored in the Phycolab's room with 12D:12L at 25℃±1℃ condition. Results showed that 9 species of dinoflagellates including: Amphidinium carterae, Amphidinium operculatum, Amphidinium sp., Tripos macroceros, Tripos furca, Peridinium quinquecorne, Prorocentrum micans, Scrippsiella trochoidea and Noctiluca scintillans have the potential to cause harmful algal blooms in the sampling area. Accurate study and identification of red tide dinoflagellate can lead to a better understanding of these species and estimating their presence time in the water column and lead to more useful monitoring and control decisions to prevent or minimize environmental damage and ecosystem and human health.

Microalgae, Phytoplankton Morphology, Harmful Algal Blooms, Makran Sea.