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Karenia (dinoflagellate)
Encyclopedia
Karenia is a genus of 12 species of dinoflagellate
s which were formerly included in the genus Gymnodinium
.
A number of species cause red tide
s, including Karenia brevis
off the coast of Florida
and Karenia mikimotoi which was first described in Japan, but is now found in the Atlantic ocean
as well, probably spread by ballast water.
Dinoflagellate
The dinoflagellates are a large group of flagellate protists. Most are marine plankton, but they are common in fresh water habitats as well. Their populations are distributed depending on temperature, salinity, or depth...
s which were formerly included in the genus Gymnodinium
Gymnodinium
Gymnodinium is a genus of dinoflagellates. It is one of the few naked dinoflagellates, or species lacking armor . Since 2000, the species which had been considered to be part of Gymnodinium have been divided into several genera, based on the nature of the apical groove and the biochemistry...
.
A number of species cause red tide
Red tide
Red tide is a common name for a phenomenon also known as an algal bloom , an event in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column and results in discoloration of the surface water. It is usually found in coastal areas...
s, including Karenia brevis
Karenia brevis
Karenia brevis is a marine dinoflagellate common in Gulf of Mexico waters, and is the organism responsible for Florida red tide, as well as red tide in Texas.-Description:K...
off the coast of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and Karenia mikimotoi which was first described in Japan, but is now found in the Atlantic ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
as well, probably spread by ballast water.
Species
- Karenia asterichroma
- Karenia bicuneiformis
- Karenia brevisKarenia brevisKarenia brevis is a marine dinoflagellate common in Gulf of Mexico waters, and is the organism responsible for Florida red tide, as well as red tide in Texas.-Description:K...
- Karenia brevisulcata
- Karenia concordia
- Karenia cristata
- Karenia digitata
- Karenia longicanalis
- Karenia mikimotoi
- Karenia papilionacea