Emergence of mixoplanktonic dinoflagellates in the Eastern Arabian Sea: An annotated checklist
Mohan, R.; Sathish, T.; Purushothaman, A.; Afnitha, K.H.; Ajayakumar, P.; Padmakumar, K.B. (2025). Emergence of mixoplanktonic dinoflagellates in the Eastern Arabian Sea: An annotated checklist. J. Earth Syst. Sci. 134(4): 191. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12040-025-02633-y
In: Journal of Earth System Science. Indian Academy of Sciences: Bangalore. ISSN 0253-4126; e-ISSN 0973-774X, meer
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| Trefwoorden |
Aquatic communities > Plankton > Phytoplankton
Climate change
Dinoflagellates
Arabian Sea [Marine Regions]
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| Author keywords |
harmful algal blooms (HABs); mixotroph; mixoplankton; Eastern Arabian Sea |
| Auteurs | | Top |
- Mohan, R.
- Sathish, T.
- Purushothaman, A.
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- Afnitha, K.H.
- Ajayakumar, P.
- Padmakumar, K.B.
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| Abstract |
Dinoflagellates are highly studied groups of protists in marine ecosystems as food for metazoan grazers and as harmful algal bloom-forming species. The recent emergence of the mixoplankton paradigm sees photo-phago-osmo-mixotrophic protists recognized as important communities in marine ecosystems akin to phytoplankton and zooplankton. The present study aims to reappraise the functional group classification of the Arabian Sea dinoflagellates and provide a checklist specifically focussing on the mixoplankton functional type – constitutive mixoplankton (CM, inherent capability for phototrophy) and non-constitutive mixoplankton (NCM, phototrophy acquired from prey) and also their harmful algal bloom (HAB) status. We focussed on three major productive areas of the Arabian Sea: South Eastern Arabian Sea (SEAS), North Eastern Arabian Sea (NEAS), and Lakshadweep Sea (LS). Our study identified 35 dinoflagellate species, whereas 26 were HAB species. The highest number of species was observed in the family Dinophysaceae, which has eight species. Among the 35 identified mixoplanktonic dinoflagellates, the majority were CM (24 spp.). Understanding mixotrophy is important in interpreting the evidence of climatic fluctuations in marine organisms, with mixoplankton shifting towards phagotrophy. Thus, this study provides the foundation for future studies on mixoplanktonic dinoflagellates, particularly for potentially harmful species with possible repercussions to climate change. |
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