Environmental drivers of dinoflagellate diversity and harmful algal bloom risk in the  eastern Arabian Sea

Agalya B.; Raahavishree T.; Sonam Angmo; Annam Pavan Kumar; Asha T. Landge; Abuthagir Iburahim S.; Binaya Bhusan Nayak

doi:10.17017/j.fish.1368

Agalya B. Fisheries Resource Management Department, FRHPHM Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400061, India
Raahavishree T. Fisheries Resource Management Department, FRHPHM Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400061, India
Sonam Angmo Fisheries Resource Management Department, FRHPHM Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400061, India
Annam Pavan Kumar Fisheries Resource Management Department, FRHPHM Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400061, India
Asha T. Landge Fisheries Resource Management Department, FRHPHM Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400061, India
Abuthagir Iburahim S. Fisheries Resource Management Department, FRHPHM Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400061, India
Binaya Bhusan Nayak Fisheries Resource Management Department, FRHPHM Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400061, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17017/j.fish.1368

Keywords: Arabian Sea, dinoflagellate diversity, harmful algal blooms, physicochemical parameters, sustainable management

Abstract

Dinoflagellates are ecologically important phytoplankton that contribute to primary production, nutrient cycling, and marine food-web dynamics, while some species are associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs). This study assessed dinoflagellate diversity and environmental drivers across three coastal locations along the Mumbai–Raigad Coast, Maharashtra, India (Versova, Ferry Wharf, and Karanja) from January to June 2025. Physicochemical parameters and dinoflagellate assemblages were analysed using diversity indices, Pearson correlation, Bray–Curtis similarity, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). A total of 21 dinoflagellate species belonging to 11 genera, nine families, and five orders were recorded. Versova exhibited the highest species richness (16 species), whereas Ferry Wharf showed the lowest diversity. Tripos furca was the dominant species across all sites. Dissolved oxygen and temperature emerged as important environmental factors influencing community composition. PCA clearly separated the study sites based on environmental characteristics. Potential HAB-forming taxa, including Alexandrium catenella and Cochlodinium sp., were detected, indicating possible ecological risks in the region. The results demonstrate that anthropogenic pressure and local environmental conditions strongly influence dinoflagellate distribution and diversity along the Maharashtra Coast. Continuous biodiversity monitoring is recommended to support early HAB detection and sustainable coastal ecosystem management.

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