Morphological, molecular and toxigenic characteristics of Namibian Pseudo-nitzschia species - including Pseudo-nitzschia bucculenta sp. nov.

A field study was undertaken to investigate the occurrence and toxin production of species in the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia in Namibian waters, in the extremely productive Benguela upwelling system. From surveys conducted on the R/V Mirabilis and the R/V !Anichab, 52 strains were morphologically determined to species level, supported by nuclear ITS rDNA data. Seven species were identified; P.