Formation and germination of temporary cysts of Cochlodinium polykrikoides Margalef (Dinophyceae) and their ecological role in dense blooms.

While the initiation and development of dense bloom of Cochlodinium polykrikoides have been shown to be related to some environmental factors, little is known about the ecological role of the formation and germination of temporary cysts, nor of their significance for the rapid expansion of dense regional-scale blooms. This study examined the factors affecting the formation and germination of temporary cysts of C. polykrikoides, and provides details about the germination process.