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Is the lower Hudson-Raritan estuary a suitable habitat for Gonyaulax tamarensis?

1988; Inter-Research; Volume: 49; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps049179

1616-1599

J. K. Geslin Brian J. Mahoney, D. W. Hollomon, Ruth Waldhauer,

Marine Ecology and Invasive Species

The toxic dinoflagellate Gonyaulax tarnarensis Lebour [ = Protogonyaulax tamarensis (Lebour emend.Taylor) Taylor = Alexandrium tamarense (Lebour) Balech] has not been identified in the lower Hudson-Raritan estuary, a characteristically hypertrophic, contaminated system but is widespread and sometimes abundant in nearby Long Island, New York waters.Our hypothesis is that anthropogenic contaminants can be important regulators of G. tamarensis in the Hudson-Raritan estuary.To address this, we conducted a series of bioassays of water collected from 2 locales in Lower New York Bay during July through September, the usual period of flagellate maxima.In the assays.G. tamarensjs growth regulation by nitrogen, phosphorus and vitamins was relatively unimportant, less important than that of one or more components of a metals mix.Nitrogen had a primary limiting role or shared primary importance with other enrichments in just 7 and 18% of the assays, respectively; phosphorus and vitamins were less limiting.Growth inhibition in the assays, which could be relieved by chelation and/or treatment of the water with activated carbon, was prevalent.Assuming the persistence of similar chemical water quality in Lower New York Bay, the results suggest that, although nutrient limitation of G. tamarensis would be improbable, this habitat would not be generally favorable.However, because the dinoflagellate grew relatively well in the unenriched, untreated bay water in 20 O/ O of the assays, and at least survived in most of the remainder, the chemical water quality does not appear to exclude it.We conclude that G. tamarensis is unlikely to become a principal resident phytoplankter in the bay, assuming its introduction, but it may be able to establish itself temporarily when water quality is favorable for the species.