Some Emendations Of Dinoflagellate Taxonomy And Study On Taxonomy Of Ceratiaceae

Because of different standpoints between Botanist and Zoologist, the taxonomysystem of dinoflagellate is changed very frequently, so it is of great significance toclarify and get a reasonable and clear classification system of dinoflagellate. Thispaper introduces some major developments of dinoflagellate classification, andreviews the history of dinoflagellate taxonomy. Differences exist between theinternational and Chinese taxonomy system. In order to convenient the exchanges andcommunication of scholars, we make some emendations on dinoflagellate taxonomy.The main emendations are:(1) the three genera named Karenia, Karlodinium andTakayama, are separated from the family Gymnodiniaceae and classified as a newfamily Kareniaceae;(2) most species in the genus Ceratium are placed inNeoceratium;(3) the genus Alexandrium is separated from family Goniodomataceae,and placed in the family Gonyaulacaceae;(4) the family Heteraulacaceae is replacedby the family Goniodomataceae; and (5) two new orders, Oxyrrhinales andPyrocystales, are established.Ceratiaceae is ubiquitous and the best known of dinoflagellate, which possesses awide range of kinds and forms. Although the Marine Algal Flora consists moreinformation about the genus Ceratium, but the descriptions of varieties and forms arecomplicated. Especially after the new genus Neoceratium was internationallyaccredited, the Marine Algal Flora is faced with some work, such as update,consummatation, etc. The water and net samples were collected mainly from Chineseoffshore investigation on phytoplankton carried by the First Institute of Oceanography,SOA in recent years. Using theca dissociation and dyeing methods under amicroscope, we identify58Neoceratium species, complete their taxonomic key, drawmore than60shape diagrams, and take nearly40pictures. Furthermore, we differentiate some similar varieties and forms, and added3species complementallywhich are absent or mistakenly classified in the Flora.