Dinoflagelados epífitos en macroalgas de charcos intermareales de las Islas Canarias: ¿Especificidad o indiferencia?

Marine macroalgae are vulnerable to be colonized by benthic dinoflagellates. Temporal and spatial variability of dinoflagellates on algal hosts is still a poorly studied topic. To investigate the interaction between marine macroalgae and epiphytic microalgae an infralittoral pool in the rocky platform of Punta del Hidalgo (N Tenerife) was selected. This study focused on the composition of dinoflagellate communities on different abundant macroalgae in the Canary Islands marine flora, such as Anadyomene saldanhae, Asparagopsis taxiformis, Cladophora liebetruthii, Colpomenia sinuosa, Dictyota dichotoma, Halopteris scoparia, ydroclathrus clathratus and Lobophora schneideri. Benthic dinoflagellates ofthe genera Amphidinium, Coolia, Ostreopsis and Prorocentrum were identified. Morphological characteristics of dinoflagellates were studied both under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Although individuals of benthic dinoflagellates were not numerous, the two most abundant genera were Coolia and Ostreopsis. The identified dinoflagellates did not show specificity towards the selected macroalgae.