Karenia brevis [Photo: Bob Andersen and D.J. Patterson, Tree of Life]

Dinoflagellates are unicellular flagellated protists.  Ninety percent of dinoflagellates exist as marine plankton; the Gulf of Mexico has 644 different documented taxa. Dinoflagellate are usually microscopic, but can grow up to 2 mm in size.  Dinoflagellates are either photosynthetic or feed on diatoms and other protists.  Dinoflagellates are the second most important primary producer in marine ecosystems after diatoms. Some species of dinoflagellata have a mutualistic relationship with reef-building corals, who rely almost exclusively on dinoflagellates for food.

Dinoflagellates are responsible for the "red tide" phenomenon seen periodically in the Gulf.  This occurs in the summer when there are large population blooms of dinoflagellates caused by warm temperatures and excess surface nutrients.  The species, Karenia brevis, is one of the most well-known harmful dinoflagellates.  This species creates blooms which are neurotoxic, leading to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) in humans through consumption of infected fish or shellfish.

(Information from Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters, and Biota: Volume 1, Biodiversity, Texas A&M University Press 2009).

**Note: Due to lack of data Gulf of Mexico Dinoflagellates are not included in the associated mapping application.

Other Resources:

UC Berkeley, Museum of Paleontology, Dinoflagellates