Gymnodinium breve

dinoflagellate

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June 29, 2026

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Gymnodinium breve is a species of marine dinoflagellate algae known for causing red tides. Dinoflagellates are single-celled organisms with two flagella, exhibiting characteristics of both plants and animals. They are a vital part of the marine food chain and can produce bioluminescence.123

Under certain conditions, Gymnodinium breve can reproduce rapidly, leading to blooms that discolor the water, often turning it yellow or red. These blooms can release toxins that are lethal to fish and can cause irritation to humans. While some dinoflagellates are photosynthetic, others are heterotrophic, meaning they consume other organisms for food. Reproduction is typically through binary fission, but some species can form dormant resting cysts.1243

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algae
Toxicity
…caused by toxins produced in Gymnodinium breve, is notorious for fish kills and shellfish poisoning along the coast of Florida in the United States. When the red tide blooms are blown to shore, wind-sprayed toxic cells can cause health problems for humans and other animals that breathe the air.
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…caused by toxins produced in Gymnodinium breve, is notorious for fish kills and shellfish poisoning along the coast of Florida in the United States. When the red tide blooms are blown to shore, wind-sprayed toxic cells can cause health problems for humans and other animals that breathe the air.
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poison
Protistan poisons
…areas containing the toxic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium breve, which is found in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida; the nature of the poison is unknown. Deaths of large numbers of brackish-water pond fishes because of Prymnesium parvum have been reported in Israel; the poison is known as prymnesin.
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…areas containing the toxic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium breve, which is found in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida; the nature of the poison is unknown. Deaths of large numbers of brackish-water pond fishes because of Prymnesium parvum have been reported in Israel; the poison is known as prymnesin.
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