Prorocentrum lima complex associated with macrophytes at two eastern boundary upwelling sites: Estero de Urías Lagoon (Mexico) and Paracas Bay (Peru)

Benthic or epibenthic dinoflagellates (EDs) are a potential risk to the environment and human health due to the production of toxins by some species. This study explored for the first time the presence of EDs mainly associated with macrophytes (macroalgae and seagrass) at 2 sites influenced by upwellings: Estero de Urías Lagoon (EUL), at the entrance of the Gulf of California, and Paracas Bay (PB), on the southern Peruvian coast. Prorocentrum lima complex was present at low abundances: ≤ 25 cells g-1 wet weight in EUL and ≤ 867 cells g-1 wet weight in PB. It was recorded in a wide range of temperatures from 22.2 to 31.6 °C in EUL and from 18.0 to 22.2 °C in PB. Despite its low abundance, monitoring the EDs community is essential to detect changes in the distribution patterns of harmful species in the context of climate change.