Dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments at Van Phong Bay, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam: distribution, abundance and potentially harmful algal blooms

Studies on dinoflagellate cysts provide important knowledge the ecology of dinoflagellates and harmful algal blooms (HABs). In this study, distribution abundance in surface sediments from 17 stations at Van Phong Bay were analyzed. There 55 different types representing 3 orders 18 genera, 8 unidentified cyst recorded. Peridiniales was most diverse order with 29 types, including 20 Protoperidinium types. 10 7 potential toxic species 4 bloom forming found, indicating a risk Bay. Number density ranged 12 to 31 115 3,760 per gram dry weight sediment, respectively. Cysts Leonella granifera dominant mouth Bay, while Scrippsiella trochoidea dominated all stations. Shannon diversity index (H') low, varying 1.192.72. two distinct assemblages identified 40% Bray-Curtis similarity, assemblage I 2 (VP09 VP10), II other