Investigation of the distribution of dinoflagellate cyst group in the surface sediment of Northern Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Region

Dinoflagellates are commonly known class among the marine phytoplankton and are expressed by many species. Some dinoflagellates spend a period of their lives in permanent cysts form, which occurs during sexual reproduction, in order to adapt according to environmental conditions. Dinoflagellates are sensitive to variable environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, nutrient elements in the oceans and seas, and the presence of these cysts between sedimentary layers is used to determine the climate changes that occur between geological cycles. Cysts also draw attention as a bioindicator role in changing environmental conditions. Therefore, they are determinants in marine pollution, water quality and eutrophication. In this study we have done sampling in the summer of 2015 from 8 stations selected to determine the distribution and abundance of the cyst population in the North Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea Region. The results of the analysis 23 dinoflagellate cyst type (two cysts were unidentified in literature the before) have been identified and recorded total cyst concentrations between 14-354 cyst/g-1dry weight sediments. When species concentrations of study are examined Alexandrium afine type, A. catanella/tamarense complex, A. minutum, Lingulodinium machaerophorum and Spiniferites bulloideus species are dominated over other species to cyst concentration. Potential toxic dinoflagellate cyst species were observed in the North Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea such as Alexandrium affine type, A. catanella/tamarense complex, A. minutum, Cochlodinium sp., Lingulodinium machaerophorum, Operculodinium centrocarpum. Morever, Cochlodinium sp. which is a dinoflagellate cyst for North Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, Protoperidinium parthenopes dinoflagellate cyst for Turkey coasts have been detected for the first time in this study. As a result of this study, removal of previously unexplored areas of the maps in the North Aegean and Mediterranean regions will predict future proliferative events and will benefit the aquaculture and fisheries areas due to the increase of potential toxic dinoflagellate cysts.