Identifying Marine Diatoms and Dinoflagellates

This taxonomic reference is intended to permit easy identification of dinoflagellates and diatoms by routine light microscope methods. It should be of use in efforts to establish and monitor the health of marine environments.

---

Identifying Marine Diatoms and Dinoflagellates is the second identification manual created from the literature developed for the Advanced International Phytoplankton Course. This version, enlarged and modified from the earlier literature, deals with the identification of marine diatoms and dinoflagellates. The data and references presented here should allow the researcher to pursue the question of valid species and how they can be verified. This volume comprises three chapters, beginning with an introductory chapter discussing the subject's historical background. The next chapter focuses on marine diatoms, providing an introduction that describes their general characteristics, life cycles, morphology and terminology, and classification. It is followed by a discussion of genera represented in marine plankton, a description of taxa, and methodology. The third and final chapter focuses on dinoflagellates, beginning with an introduction that describes their general characteristics and eukaryotic unicells. The discussion continues with terminology and morphology, identification of species, techniques for preparation of dinoflagellates for identification, common dinoflagellate synonyms, and an index of dinoflagellate taxa. This book will be of interest to practitioners in the fields of biology, zoology, and environmental protection.