IMIS

This volume of the REVIZEE Document Series, named "Dinoflagellates and Tintinnids of the central region of the Brazilian Economic Exclusive Zone: identification guide", was based on samples collected during the REVIZEE - Central IV oceanographic cruise that took place in the region between Salvador (BA) and Sao Tome Cape (RJ), including the oceanic islands of Trindade and Martim Vaz, from March through May 2000. Within the scope of the REVIZEE Program, we assessed some aspects of the plankton, those that related the abundance of populations to general oceanographic features, in order to add to the understanding of the dynamics of the overall availability of live resources. In this context, the detailed study of species composition was not part of the aims of the Program. The detailed study of 43 selected net samples collected by vertical tows, from 200m to the surface, led to the identification of 225 Dinoflagellates and 89 Tintinnids, of which 129 were photographed with light microscopy. Our goal was to create an illustrated guide of Dinoflagellates and Tintinnids present in a tropical oceanic region where little information is available. Indeed, illustrated guides of plankton organisms, especially from offshore regions, are lacking for Brazilian waters. This guide presents the first compilation of 314 species of Dinoflagellates and Tintinnids and it is organized in 3 (three) Chapters and 1 (one) Appendix. Chapter I provides the reader with information about the main characteristics of Dinoflagellates and Tintinnids, about the study area, about the field and the laboratory methods used, as well as some general comments about the ecology of the species considered most relevant in terms of occurrence and abundance. Chapter II (THE DINOFLAGELLATES) and Chapter III (THE TINTINNIDS) present a dichotomous identification key associated with an illustrated description at the genus level (11 genera of Dinoflagellates and 30 of Tintinnids). For each species illustrated, we provide a description of the main characteristics, morphometric data, taxonomic references and maps of distribution. A glossary of the main terms used in the description of genera and species is provided at the end of each chapter. The Appendix gives a complete species list within a taxonomic classification system, according to their occurrences at each sampling site. The references included at the end of each chapter are: (i) those that include information about general, methodological and ecological aspects of plankton (Chapter 1) and (ii) those that were used for species identification and taxonomic classification (Chapters 2 and 3).