Dinophysis acuta Ehrenberg, 1839
Species Overview:
Dinophysis acuta is an armoured, marine, planktonic dinoflagellate species. It is a toxic species associated with DSP events and is commonly found in cold and temperate neritic waters.
Taxonomic Description:
Species in this genus are laterally compressed with a small, cap-like epitheca and a much larger hypotheca (dorso-ventral depth of epitheca is 1/2 to 2/3 of hypotheca). The shape of the cell in lateral view is the most important criterion used for identification (Taylor et al., 1995).
Cells of Dinophysis acuta are large and robust, and are among the largest species in the genus Dinophysis (Fig. 1). Cells are oblong with a slightly pointed or rounded posterior end (Figs. 1,3,4). The left sulcal list (LSL) extends beyond the midpoint of the cell (about 2/3 of cell length) ending at or above the widest portion of the cell (Fig. 5) (Balech, 1976, Dodge, 1982, Larsen and Moestrup, 1992, Taylor et al., 1995, Steidinger and Tangen, 1996).
The thick thecal plates of the hypotheca are coarsely areolated, each areolA with a central pore (Figs. 1,6). The areolation becomes very faint or disappears near the edge of the plates. Cell size ranges: 54-94 µm in length and 43-60 µm in dorso-ventral width (widest below the middle) (Balech, 1976, Dodge, 1982, Larsen and Moestrup, 1992, Taylor et al., 1995, Steidinger and Tangen, 1996).
Thecal Plate Description:
The small epitheca is made up of four plates. It is low, flat or weakly convex, and is not visible in lateral view (Balech, 1976, Larsen and Moestrup, 1992, Taylor et al., 1995).
The cingulum is made up of four unequal plates, all with pores. Well developed cingular lists are present: an anterior cingular list (ACL), and a posterior cingular list (PCL). They are generally smooth and rarely ornamented (Fig. 1). The ACL obscures the low epitheca (Balech, 1976, Dodge, 1982, Larsen and Moestrup, 1992).
The sulcus is comprised of several irregularly shaped plates. The flagellar pore is housed in the sulcal area. The left sulcal list (LSL), supported by three ribs that radiate outward, is rather broad with a convex ventral margin. It is wider posteriorly and slightly areolated. The second sulcal rib is closer to the first than to the third. The third rib is the longest (Figs. 1,6,7) (Balech, 1976, Dodge, 1982, Taylor et al., 1995).
The hypotheca, with four large plates, comprises the majority of the cell. The anterior 2/3 of the hypotheca has convex margins, while the posterior third of the hypotheca forms a broad asymmetrical triangle with a straight dorsal edge and occassionally a slightly concave ventral edge (Figs. 1-5). The tapered and roughly pointed antapex is directed slightly ventrally (Figs. 2-5) (Balech, 1976, Dodge, 1982, Taylor et al., 1995). Balech (1976: figs. 2H, 2I) depicts two specimens with two to three small knob-like spines on the posterior end.
Morphology and Structure:
Dinophysis acuta is a photosynthetic species with yellow chloroplasts (Dodge, 1982, Larsen and Moestrup, 1992).
Dimorphic cells, one half resembling D. acuta and the other half resembling D. dens (the proposed gamete form), have occasionally been observed in this species (Reguera et al., 1990, Hansen, 1993, Moita and Sampayo, 1993). It is highly probable that these cells represent a stage in gametogenesis (Hansen, 1993).
Reproduction:
D. acuta reproduces asexually by binary fission. Hansen (1993) speculates that sexual reproduction, with sexual dimorphism, is part of the life cycle for this species.
Species Comparison:
D. acuta is very similar to D. norvegica in their general shape, and thus can easily be misidentified. D. acuta can be differentiated by its larger size and different shape: D. norvegica is widest in the middle region of the cell, whereas D. acuta is widest below the mid-section. Moreover, D. acuta has a longer left sulcal list relative to its cell length (Balech, 1976, Dodge, 1982, Larsen and Moestrup, 1992, Taylor et al., 1995, Steidinger and Tangen, 1996).
D. acuta also strongly resembles a warm-water species, D. schroederi Pavillard, 1909 (Schiller, 1933, Balech, 1976, Burns and Mitchell, 1982).
Remarks:
Many authors consider Phalacroma to be synonymous with Dinophysis (Steidinger and Tangen, 1996).