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- Prorocentrum micans
Dinoflagellate |
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Prorocentrum micans |
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Description
An armoured, marine, planktonic,
bloom-forming dinoflagellate. It is a tear-shaped flattened cell,
widest at the centre. The posterior
is
pointed and the anterior is rounded. The apical horn is well
developed, winged and off-centre of the the cell. The cell surface
is covered in small pores. This species is abundant and most often
seen out of the Prorocentrum species.
P. micans forms extensive
blooms, but is considered harmless as it causes non-toxic red tides
(Taylor & Seliger 1979).
P. micans reproduces asexually
by binary fission
Ecology: P. micans is commonly found in marine waters all over the world (Dodge 1975).
Life-form: Solitary but may be found in pairs during binary fission reproduction
| CPR:133 | ITIS:9879 | WORMS:110303 |
Distribution and Abundance
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Distribution of all Prorocentrum species Distribution 1958-1999 |
Images
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Size
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35-70 µm long 20-50 µm wide A length : width ratio usually less than two |
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Similar spp/Variations
P. gracile, P. scutellum, P. caribbaeum, P. gracile
References/Further Reading
Dodge JD. 1975. The Prorocentrales (Dinophyceae). II. Revision of the taxonomy within the genus Prorocentrum. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 71: 103-125.
Dodge JD. 1982 Marine Dinoflagellates of the British Isles, Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London.
SERC. 2009. Prorocentrum micans. Phytoplankton Guide. Accessed through: http://botany.si.edu/references/dinoflag/Taxa/Pmicans.htm on 2009-10-30
Taylor DL. & HH Seliger 1979. Toxic Dinoflagellate Blooms, Elsevier / North Holland, New York. 505 pp.
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