Influence of solar and geomagnetic activity in Gymnodinium catenatum (Dinophyceae) cultures.

Laboratory cultures of the paralytic shellfish poisoning producing microalga Gymnodinium catenatum were subjected to a hypo-osmotic shock and changes in cell concentration were observed in two separate experiments of 8 and 24 hours duration, respectively. The increase in geomagnetic activity (GMA), radio and X-ray fluxes and solar X-ray flares were negatively correlated with cell numbers. Cell losses were observed in the short experiment, but not in the longest one. GMA action was related to the course of the experimental period, while electromagnetic radiation (EMR) was only significantly related when the previous hours before the experiments were considered. The differential action windows might be indicative of two differential disruptive mechanisms: EMR might act on DNA synthesis and mitosis phases of the cell cycle (taking place in the dark period) and GMA might be more disruptive at the end of mytosis or cytokinesis phases taking place in the light period. Formation of long chains (> 4 cells/chain) was reduced with salinity and with temperatures above 27ºC but increased with EMR and GMA, particularly when grown at the highest temperatures recorded during the study period (≥28ºC).