← Back to algae index

Parvodinium cunningtonii (Lemmermann) Pandeirada et al 2022

Previous name used: Peridiniopsis cunningtonii Lemmermann 1907

Phylum
Dinoflagellata
Class
Dinophyceae
Order
Peridiniales
Habitat
plankton, pelagial
Distinctive features
Co-occurs with Parvodinium elpatiewskyi
Organization
flagellated single cells
Color
golden-brown
Cell shape
prolate spheroid
Cell diameter (D)
varies significantly over an annual cycle 21 - 30 µm, median: 25.6 µm (N=>2000)
Cell length (L)
27 – 36 µm, median: 31 µm (N=700)
Cell biovolume
6300 - 17500 µm³, median: 10500 µm³.
Biovolume equation
V, µm³ = 2.099 D²·⁶²³

Morphological features

Cells shape is of half sphere (hypotheca) + half cone (epitheca) of about the same diameter above it, with the cingulum traversing the cell where they connect (Plate 1). The apex of the epitheca has a “mouth” shape. Two to six spines extend from the hypotheca. The sulcus barely extends into the epitheca, it widens along the hypotheca where it does not reach the antapex. Red bodies often seen (Plate 1a-c). Resting cysts (not shown) are oval with a thick cell wall. Parvodinium cunningtonii is similar to P. elpatiewskyi in size and shape, and they tend to co-occur. See here our tips for distinguishing between these two species under the light microscope.
Parvodinium cunningtonii (Lemmermann) Pandeirada et al 2022 — plate 1 (from source)
Plate 1. Light microscope (a-c) and SEM (d-f) photographs of Parvodinium cunningtonii, showing shape and typical small spines/horns extending from the hypotheca. The “mouth” shape at the top of the cell is diagnostic. Note red-brown stigma (eye spots) in a-c. Light microscope photos: Alla Alster; SEM photos: Barbara Hickel.

Ecology

Parvodinium cunningtonii is one of the species always present in the water column, contributing to total phytoplankton biomass up to 20-30%. The species was less abundant before the mid 1990s, when Peridinium gatunense bloomed every year, but has become more abundant with the decline of Peridinium gatunense in recent years (Fig. 1). Parvodinium cunningtonii tends to co-occur with Ps elpatiewskyi (Figs. 1, 2). Parvodinium cunningtonii abundance shows a typical annual cycle of population increase in March, peak in April and decline in May-June, with low abundances but continuous presence throughout the summer (Fig. 3). Cell size fluctuates seasonally, with largest size in winter, smallest in summer (Fig. 3). This feature is shared with several other Kinneret dinoflagellates.

Environmental conditions

Parvodinium cunningtonii cell abundance > 20 mL⁻¹ occurred more frequently but not exclusively at Chloride concentration > 225 mg L⁻¹, conductivity > 1050 µS cm⁻¹, pH > 8.5, over the full range of alkalinities (90-140 mg CaCO₃ L⁻¹, dissolved oxygen > 10 mg L⁻¹, at a relatively narrow range of long-wave radiation (320-385 Watt m⁻²), but over the full range of short-wave radiation (100-350 Watt m⁻²) and water temperatures (14-30C), when the lake was stratified. The high levels of dissolved oxygen during its high abundance are unusual (Fig. 4). These conditions are extremely similar to those under which Parvodinium elpatiewskyi is abundant and indeed the two species nearly always co-occur (Figs 1,2).

Additional figures

Figure 1. Time series of the abundance (cells/mL) of three dinoflagellates: Parvodinium cunningtonii, Parvodinium elpatiewskyi and Peridinium gatunense, showing that the two Parvodinium species tend to co-occur and that the abundance of both has greatly increased since the mid 1990s, when Peridinium gatunense no longer blooms each year.
Figure 2. Regression of Parvodinium cunningtoni abundance (cells mL⁻¹) vs. Parvodinium elpatiewsky abundance.
Figure 3. Parvodinium cunningtonii – The seasonal pattern of cell abundance and cell size, showing the characteristic spring peak abundance (left) and an annual cycle with larger cells in winter, smaller in summer (right) this species shares with several other Kinneret dinoflagellates.
Figure 4. Parvodinium cunningtoni abundance (cells mL⁻¹) vs. environmental parameters recorded at the site and time of sampling.

Cite this record as: Tamar Zohary, Alla Alster. 7 May 2026. Electronic publication. Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research. https://kinneret-algae-atlas.org/ Searched on —.

Further reading

  1. Hansen G, Flaim G. 2007. Dinoflagellates of the Trentino Province, Italy. J Limnol. 66:107-141.
  2. Pandeirada MS, Craveiro SC, Daugbjerg N, Moestrup Ø, Calado AJ. 2022. Ultrastructure and phylogeny of Parvodinium cunningtonii comb. nov. (syn. Peridiniopsis cunningtonii) and description of P. cunningtonii var. inerme var. nov. (Peridiniopsidaceae, Dinophyceae). Eur J Protistol. 86:125930.

← Back to algae index