A brief taxonomy of the genus Prorocentrum in the coastal areas along Sanya Bay, Hainan Island

Abstract

This is the first report of the genus Prorocentrum Ehrenberg occurring in the coastal areas along Sanya Bay, Hainan Island. Samples were collected from five coastal stations in 2017, and a brief taxonomy of Prorocentrum species was carried out using an inverted microscope. Five species (P. hoffmannianum, P. lima, P. micans, P. rhathymum, P. sigmoides) were identified, including three toxic species and two red tide-forming species. In particular, P. hoffmannianum and P. lima were both confirmed as the producers of okadaic acid and responsible for diarrhoetic shellfish poisoning events. This may suggest the potential threats of harmful algal blooms in the coastal areas along Sanya Bay that could cause diarrhoetic shellfish poisoning events.