The dinoflagellates of the Dinophysiales order are a morphologically diverse and ecologically heterogeneous group that includes autotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic species and others containing endosymbionts or phycotoxin producers. In this research Dinophysis, Ornithocercus, Histioneis and Amphisolenia species have been identified in both coastal and oceanic waters of the Southern region of Brazil next to Santa Marta Grande Cape, SC and Albardão-Chuí, RS. Vertical hauls were performed with plankton nets (20 µm) on board of the R. V. Atlântico Sul at 33 oceanographic stations sampled in August/September 2005 (Winter) and February 2007 (Summer). The plankton was fixed with formaldehyde (4%) and analyzed with the help of an inverted microscope. A total of 43 Dinophysiales species were identified, most of them widely distributed in the coastal, continental and oceanic areas such as Dinophysis acuminata, D. exigua, D. ovata and Histioneis hyalina in the Summer of 2007 and D. acuminata, D. caudata, D. fortii e D. schroederi in the Winter of 2005. The distribution of some species was restricted to the oceanic region under the influence of the Brazil Current as it was observed for Dinophysis dubia, D. exigua, D. schuetti, Histioneis para, Ornithocercus thumii and O. splendidus in the Winter of 2005 and D. similis, D. rapa, H. megalocopa, H. milneri, O. heteroporus and O. splendidus in the Summer of 2007. Six potentially toxic species were registered, Dinophysis acuminata, D. caudata, D. fortii, D. mitra, D. tripos and D. rotundata.
biodiversity; dinoflagellates; Dinophysis
