Dinoflagellata (Dinophyta) of the Mediterranean Sea coastal waters in the Haifa area (Israel)

Data on species composition and morphology of Dinoflagellata (Dinophyta) of the Mediterranean Sea coastal waters of Israel (Haifa) are presented. To date, Dinoflagellata of the Mediterranean Sea have been studied mostly in its western and central regions. The eastern part of the sea is less explored; data on the dinoflagellates of the coastal waters of Israel were absent. In order to fill this gap in May–June 2015 we sampled plankton in the coastal area of the Mediterranean Sea near Haifa. Samples were collected using a plankton net in 50–100 m from the shore at a depth of 0.5–3 m. A total of 28 species (29 infraspecific taxa) belonging to 1 class, 6 orders, 10 families, and 11 genera were identified in plankton of the studied area. Amphidiniopsis cf. rotundata Hoppenrath et Selina, Ceratium contortum var. karstenii (Pav.) Sournia, C. horridum var. buceros (Zach.) Sournia, C. tripos f. tripodoides Jörg., and Prorocentrum cf. elegans M.A. Faust are first reported for the Mediterranean Sea. Four potentially toxic species, namely: Dinophysis caudata Saville-Kent, D. rotundatum Clap. et J. Lachm., Ostreopsis ovata Fukuyo, and Prorocentrum cf. elegans are discussed. Morphological descriptions and microphotographs of identified taxa are presented.