First report of epiphytic dinoflagellateCoolia malayensis(Dinophyceae) in the southeastern Pacific Ocean

Abstract

AbstractCooliaspecies are epiphytic and benthic dinoflagellates with a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical and subtropical areas. In the austral summer of 2016, during a survey in Bahía Calderilla, a dinoflagellate of the genusCooliawas detected in macroalgae samples, and a clonal culture was established. Subsequently, the cultured cells were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and identified asC. malayensisbased on their morphological characteristics. Phylogenetic analyses based on the LSU rDNA D1/D2 regions confirmed that strain D005‐1 corresponded toC. malayensisand clustered with strains isolated from New Zealand, Mexico, and Asia Pacific countries. Although the strain D005‐1 culture did not contain yessotoxin (YTX), cooliatoxin, 44‐methyl gambierone, or its analogs in detectable amounts by LC–MS/MS, more research is needed to evaluate its toxicity and to determine the possible impact ofC. malayensisin northern Chilean waters.