Alexandrium tamarense

Alexandrium tamarense (ah-leck-sand-rr-um) is a motile autotrophic dinoflagellate which produces paralytic shellfish poisons (PSP toxins). This image shows plastids, equatorial girdle, a hint of the longitudinal sulcus in the rear of the cell where it passes over the nucleus. Because of the toxicity, correct identification is required, and this needs expert input, which can be obtained from other sites such as IOC Harmful Algal Bloom Program. Differential interference microscopy. data on this strain.

Alexandrium tamarense (ah-leck-sand-rr-um) is a motile autotrophic dinoflagellate which produces paralytic shellfish poisons. This image shows a cell that has been forced, by coverslip pressure (from the thumb of that butcher Patterson), from its theca, and several thecal plates are visible. Because of the toxicity, correct identification is required, and this needs expert input, which can be obtained from other sites such as IOC Harmful Algal Bloom Program. Differential interference microscopy. data on this strain.