Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 80 (4): 493-507, 2007
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Marine diatoms from Buenos Aires coastal waters (Argentina). III Potentially harmful genus
Asterionellopsis,Cerataulina, Ceratoneis y Leptocylindrus
The present work is devoted to the morphological, taxonomic, and distributional study of
the diatom species belonging to the genera Asterionellopsis, Cerataulina, Ceratoneis and
Leptocylindrus found in the marine coastal waters of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Planktonic samples were
collected from November 1994 to September 2000 at San Clemente del Tuyú, Santa Teresita, La Lucila del Mar, Mar de Ajó, Nueva
Atlantis, Pinamar and Villa Gesell. Raw and cleaned samples were analysed with light and scanning electron microscopy. Six taxa of
the mentioned genera were determined, of which Cerataulina dentata is reported for the first time for Argentina and
Leptocylindrus minimus is a new record for the coastal waters of Buenos Aires Province. All the species mentioned as
harmful non toxigenic in other geographical areas were found. Cerataulina pelagica, Ceratoneis closterium
and Leptocylindrus minimus, occasional members of the plankton in the area always in low densities, were never
associated with bloom events. Whereas Asterionellopsis glacialis, usual member of the plankton in the area, has been
responsible of the noxious blooms that affected tourism and recreational activities during summer months at this touristic
region.
Key words:
diatoms,
Asterionellopsis, Cerataulina, Ceratoneis, Leptocylindrus, harmful
species
