FIRST REPORT OF A MARINE DINOFLAGELLATE, ALEXANDRIUM ANDERSONII (DINOPHYACEAE) IN MALAYSIAN WATERS

Abstract

A field survey was carried out at aquaculture areas of Aman Island, Penang to monitor harmful microalgae. In this study, a strain of Alexandrium species was established in laboratory culture and identified using morphological criteria and nucleotide sequences of the LSU rDNA to confirm the identification. The strain was observed under epi-fluorescence microscope and the morphological characters resembled to the species description of A. andersonii. Based on the nucleotide sequences, the strain also revealed close relationship to A. andersonii. HPLC analysis found that A. andersonii was not able to produce paralytic shellfish toxins. This is the first report of A. andersonii found in Malaysian waters.