''Gonyaulax'' is a genus of
dinoflagellate
The Dinoflagellates (), also called Dinophytes, are a monophyletic group of single-celled eukaryotes constituting the phylum Dinoflagellata and are usually considered protists. Dinoflagellates are mostly marine plankton, but they are also commo ...
s with the
type species
In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...
''Gonyaulax spinifera'' (Claparède et Lachmann) Diesing. ''Gonyaulax'' belongs to red dinoflagellates and commonly causes
red tide
A harmful algal bloom (HAB), or excessive algae growth, sometimes called a red tide in marine environments, is an algal bloom that causes negative impacts to other organisms by production of natural algae-produced toxins, water deoxygenation, ...
s. It can produce yesotoxins: for example, strains of ''Gonyaulax spinifera'' from New Zealand are yessotoxin producers.
Structure
The plate formula in the genus ''Gonyaulax'' Diesing was redefined as Po, 3', 2a, 6", 6c, 4-8s, 5'", 1p, 1"".
Classification
All species are marine, except for one freshwater species, ''Gonyaulax apiculata''.
It previously included several species, which are now considered to belong to a separate genus, e.g.:
*''Gonyaulax tamarensis'' (now: ''
Alexandrium tamarense
''Alexandrium tamarense'' is a species of dinoflagellates known to produce saxitoxin, a neurotoxin which causes the human illness clinically known as paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Multiple species of phytoplankton are known to produce saxi ...
'')
*''Gonyaulax grindleyi'' (now: ''Protoceratium reticulatum'')
*''Gonyaulax polyedra'' (now: ''
Lingulodinium polyedra
''Lingulodinium polyedra'' is a species of motile photosynthetic dinoflagellates. ''L. polyedra'' are often the cause of red tides in southern California, leading to bioluminescent displays on beaches at night.
Life cycle
As part of its life cyc ...
'')
Adaptations
''Gonyaulax''
dinoflagellate
The Dinoflagellates (), also called Dinophytes, are a monophyletic group of single-celled eukaryotes constituting the phylum Dinoflagellata and are usually considered protists. Dinoflagellates are mostly marine plankton, but they are also commo ...
s can produce resting cysts that belong to the cyst-defined genus ''Spiniferites'' and other genera
Effect on humans
Although some ''Gonyaulax'' species can produce yessotoxins, which can accumulate in shellfish, no harmful effects to humans have been clearly demonstrated; however abalone mortalities have been related to blooms of ''Gonyaulax membranaceae''.
Red tide
A
Red tide
A harmful algal bloom (HAB), or excessive algae growth, sometimes called a red tide in marine environments, is an algal bloom that causes negative impacts to other organisms by production of natural algae-produced toxins, water deoxygenation, ...
is a discoloration of the sea water by pigmented cells like ''Gonyaulax spp.,'' some of which may produce toxins. ''Gonyaulax spinifera'' has been connected to the production of
yessotoxin
Yessotoxins are a group of lipophilic, sulfur bearing polyether toxins that are related to ciguatoxins. They are produced by a variety of dinoflagellates, most notably '' Lingulodinium polyedrum'' and '' Gonyaulax spinifera''.
When the environm ...
s (YTXs), a group of structurally related
polyether
In organic chemistry, ethers are a class of compounds that contain an ether group, a single oxygen atom bonded to two separate carbon atoms, each part of an organyl group (e.g., alkyl or aryl). They have the general formula , where R and R†...
toxins, which can accumulate in shellfish.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5582128
Dinoflagellate genera
Bioluminescent dinoflagellates
Gonyaulacales