Checklist of potentially toxic phytoplankton species along the Italian coast from 2006 to 2019

Seawater samples for phytoplankton analysis were collected in the areas of the aquaculture farms with bottles and/or 20 µm mesh-sized nets following the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission guidelines (Reguera et al., 2016). Samples were preserved by adding acid or neutral Lugol’s solution. Species identification was generally performed in light microscopy, hence it should be considered tentative in all cases requiring electron microscopy or molecular methods. Yet identification at times was supported by more detailed information obtained on specific samples at research institutions of the areas. Toxic or potentially toxic species were counted following the Utermöhl method (EUROPEAN STANDARD, 2006).

References
EUROPEAN STANDARD (2006). EN 15204 Water quality - Guidance standard on the enumeration of phytoplankton using inverted microscopy (Utermöhl technique).
Reguera, B., Alonso, R., Moreira, A., Méndez, S., Dechraoui-Bottein, M.-Y., 2016. Guide for designing and implementing a plan to monitor toxin-producing microalgae. UNESCO & IAEA, Paris, France & Vienna, Austria.