Dinoflagellates

What are Dinoflagellates? Most dinoflagellates are marine oriented. Dinoflagellates are unicellular organisms, which usually have 2 flagellum, and are thus mobile. Dinoflagellates belong to Kingdom Protista. Most dinoflagellates are photosynthetic. Dinoflagellates produce asexually by dividing, and sexually by combining with another dinoflagellate.

What is Pfisteria? Pfisteria is a type of dinoflagellate that has been held accountable for harmful blooms and the deaths of thousands of fish. Releases toxins into the water which paralyze and kill fish. The Pfisteria eventually feeds off of the tissue that comes off of the prey. Pfisteria was discovered at NC State University in 1988.

Red Tide! A red tide is a huge upwelling and collection of bioluminescent dinoflagellates, or algal bloom; which occurs when eutrophication (excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphorus) is present. These excessive levels of nutrients cause the bloom to grow even more. Non-toxic red tides can be extremely beneficial to marine ecosystems. Zooplankton and shellfish thrive in the nutrient rich waters.

Red Tide! (continued) Red Tide dinoflagellates are bioluminescent when they are disturbed; meaning they glow blue in the dark at night.