TY - JOUR T1 - Distribution of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in recent sediments from a southern Mediterranean lagoon (Mellah, Algeria) with emphasis on toxic species A1 - Draredja,Mohamed Anis A1 - Frihi,Hocine A1 - Boualleg,Chahinaise A1 - Abadie,Eric A1 - Laabir,Mohamed AD - Laboratory of Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems, Faculty of Sciences of Nature and Life, M.C Messaadia University, PB 1553, 41000 Souk Ahras, Algeria AD - Marine Bioressources Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, PB 12, 23000 Annaba, Algeria AD - Center for Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation (MARBEC), University of Montpellier, IRD, Ifremer, CNRS, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France AD - Marine Bioressources Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, PB 12, 23000 Annaba, Algeria AD - Center for Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation (MARBEC), University of Montpellier, IRD, Ifremer, CNRS, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08830-0 DO - 10.1007/s11356-020-08830-0 KW - Dinoflagellate cysts KW - Environmental factors KW - Diversity KW - Toxic species KW - Spatial distribution KW - Mellah lagoon N2 - This is the first study on the dinoflagellate cysts inAlgerianwaters and in Mellah Lagoon (SouthWesternMediterranean), located  within a protected reserve. In total, 42 species of dinocysts belonging to 7 orders, 12 families and 23 genera, were identified in the  26 superficial sediment samples from Mellah Lagoon. The distribution of dinocysts in the sediment of this lagoon is heteroge- neous. Indeed, their abundance oscillates between 1 and 315 cysts g−1 dry sediment (DS). Cyst morphotype assemblages were dominated by a few numbers of species: Alexandrium minutum (15.87%), Gonyaulax verior (9.81%), Protoperidinium spp.  (7.74%), Alexandrium affine (7.05%), Scrippsiella trochoidea (6.67%), and Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax (6.19%). There is a  positive correlation between the density of cysts and the depth (r = 0.61; p < 0.05), organic matter (r = 0.70; p < 0.05), water  content (r = 0.71; p < 0.05), and the fine fraction of sediment (r = 0.74; p < 0.05). Surprisingly, although the Mellah Lagoon is  almost semi-closed, it holds an important specific richness in dinocysts (42 species) higher than others observed in Mediterranean  lagoons. However, cyst abundances are low compared to other lagoons in the Mediterranean Sea. Finally, the presence of  dinocysts of Alexandrium catenella/tamarense, A. minutum, and Gymnodiniumcatenatum associated to paralytic shellfish toxins,  A. pseudogonyaulax which produces goniodomin A, also Protoceratium reticulatum and Gonyaulax spinifera complex which  produce yessotoxins, needs to implement a monitoring programto prevent a potential human intoxication due to the consumption of contaminated sea products by these potent neurotoxins. Y1 - 2020/07 PB - Springer JF - Environmental Science And Pollution Research SN - 0944-1344 VL - 27 IS - 20 SP - 25173 EP - 25185 ID - 73575 ER -