State of knowledge of freshwater dinoflagellates in Mexico

Dinoflagelados dulceacuícolas de México

Abstract

Background. Since 1984, Ortega and several researchers have documented the presence of dinoflagellates in Mexico in reports and inventories to attain an overview of the biodiversity of this and other algal groups. However, their study is still incipient because of the fragility and small cell size of these organisms. Currently, there are more tools for their study, but precisely for this reason, detailed studies are just beginning. Goals. Compilation of an updated list of freshwater dinoflagellates of Mexico up to 2022. Methods. A bibliographic search was carried out by consulting reports and printed and electronic publications available at university documentation centers, as well as by reviewing the specialized databases AlgaeBase and bdLACET. Results. A total of 87 species and infraspecific taxa grouped into 25 genera,18 families and 9 orders have been recorded. The taxonomic classification was based on the system by Moestrup & Calado (2018). The names were updated according to AlgaebBase. Ceratium hiundinella, Gymnodinium palustre, Gymnodinium sp. and Peridinium sp. were the most frequently occurring species. The states of Michoacan, State of Mexico, Mexico City and Oaxaca were the most studied, and the most common environments were lakes, lagoons, and dams. Conclusions. Despite the expected notable increase in reported taxa from 2004 to date, this is likely not a complete list because Mexico presently lacks the personnel and budget for this work, for the expansion of geographic coverage and for the application of electron microscopy and molecular biology techniques necessary for more precise analyses.