Diversity and distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments from fjords of western Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada)

• Published in: Marine micropaleontology 2018-09, Vol.143, p.12-29
• Main Authors: Gurdebeke, Pieter R., Pospelova, Vera, Mertens, Kenneth Neil, Dallimore, Audrey, Chana, Jasmin, Louwye, Stephen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biogenic silica; Dinoflagellate cyst diversity; Estuary; Life Sciences; Process length of Protoceratium reticulatum cysts; Testate amoebae; Total organic carbon
• ISSN: 0377-8398; 1872-6186
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marmicro.2018.07.005

A total of 31 surface sediment samples from 16 coastal inlets in five sounds of western Vancouver Island were investigated for dinoflagellate cysts and other palynomorphs. Well-preserved and abundant dinoflagellate cysts were recovered, including a total of 32 cyst taxa belonging to four families. Total dinoflagellate cyst concentrations vary two orders of magnitude, with concentrations between 2267 and 918,584 cysts g−1. The highest values were observed in samples from Tofino Inlet. Southern sites are characterized by cysts of autotrophic dinoflagellates, mainly Operculodinium centrocarpum sensu Wall & Dale 1966. Other abundant cysts of autotrophic dinoflagellates are Spiniferites spp. and cysts of Pentapharsodinium dalei. In general, other inlets in Quatsino, Kyuquot-Nootka and Clayoquot Sounds have lower total concentrations but have more cysts of heterotrophic dinoflagellates, mainly Round brown cysts, Brigantedinium spp., and Spiny brown cysts. Neroutsos Inlet is characterized by high concentrations of Arcellacean testate amoebae. Within inlets, cyst concentrations and assemblages vary. Near the heads of the inlets, concentrations are generally lower and assemblages are dominated by cysts of autotrophic dinoflagellates, mostly O. centrocarpum sensu Wall & Dale 1966. Concentrations of cysts produced by heterotrophic dinoflagellates and their proportions in the assemblages generally increase from the head to the mouth of each inlet. Measured sedimentary biogenic silica abundances (%Opal) have consistently higher values in Clayoquot Sound and lower values in Quatsino Sound. Within individual inlets, biogenic silica generally increases in the head to mouth direction. The trend in heterotrophic cyst abundances is similar. Correlations between total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and terrestrial palynomorph concentrations in the sediments indicate that the organic material at sites near inlet heads are mainly derived from terrestrial input. A significant negative correlation between biogenic silica and TOC/TN ratio was observed in the dataset, but not between the total heterotrophic cyst concentrations and relative abundances of biogenic silica. Statistical analyses (PCA, RDA) indicate that the assemblages of dinoflagellate cysts and other palynomorphs, their spatial distributions, and sedimentary geochemical measurements are related to the regional environmental setting (e.g., latitudinal trends in weather, primary productivity, and upwelling) a