DINOFLAGELLATE ASSOCIATIONS IN A SUBTROPICAL LAKE (LAKE KINNERET, ISRAEL)

The phytoplankton of Lake Kinneret (Israel), a subtropical lake, is characterized by a yearly winter-spring water bloom of dinoflagellates. The identity, abundance, succession and temporal and spatial distribution of the dinoflagellate associations are presented. The common species are Peridinium gatunense, Peridiniopsis borgei, Ps. elpatiewskyi, Ps. cunningtonii and Ceratium hirundinella. The species present in the lake are forms with a wide range of geographical distribution. The development of the vegetative cells and their bloom occur in similar environmental conditions in Lake Kinneret and in temperate water bodies. The unfavourable conditions for the vegetative cells are in summer in the subtropical lake and in winter in temperate zones. Thus, the cysts of P. gatunense, Peridiniopsis spp. and C. hirundinella are "oversummering" forms in Lake Kinneret and "overwintering" ones in temperate water bodies.