Prorocentrum micans
Diagnosis
Diagnoses_species: Faust & Gulledge (2002: 64). This species forms extensive red tides in many parts of the world. Recent incidents involving shellfish mortality have been attributed to oxygen depletion. P. Micans is a bivalvate species often observed in valve view. Cells of this species are highly variable in shape and size. Cells are tear-drop to heart shaped, rounded anteriorly, pointed posteriorly, and broadest around the middle. This species is strongly flattened with a well developed winged apical spine (10 µm long) on the left valve. Cells are medium-sized (35-70 µm long, 20-50 µm wide), with a length:width ratio usually less than two. The cell surface is rugose, covered with shallow minute depressions. Numerous tubular trichocyst pores are also present in short rows arranged radially. Intercalary band is smooth and wide. The periflagellar area is a relatively small, shallow, broad triangular depression situated apically on the right valve off-center. Two periflagellar pores are present: one large flagellar pore and one smaller auxiliary pore. Adjacent to the flagellar pore is a small, slightly curved periflagellar plate. The large pointed apical spine lies adjacent to the periflagellar area, directly opposite the periflagellar plate. P. micans is a photosynthetic species with two golden-brown chloroplasts situated posteriorly. A large kidney-shaped nucleus is situated posteriorly. Two anterior vacuoles are usually present.
Body_length: 35-70 µm
Body_Width: 20-50 µm
Bloom: Yes
Toxicity:No
Allelopathy: Yes (It may excrete substances that inhibit diatom growth)
Type species
This is the type species (holotype) of the genus Prorocentrum.
Type illustration / Type locality / Type specimen
Type_locality: North Sea: near Kiel, Berlin, Germany (Faust & Gulledge 2002: 64).
Ecology
Substrate: planktonic
Sociability: solitary
Sociability: colonial
Salinity: marine
Salinity: variable (estuary)
pH: neutral
Feeding: Photosynthetic
Life cycle
Phases_alternance: haplontic
Generation: <1 month
Reproduction_mode: asexual