Garry Benico

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Verified

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• PhD in Aquatic Bioscience
• Professor at Central Luzon State University

Morphology and phylogeny of the marine woloszynskioid dinoflagellate Biecheleriopsis adriatica, collected from Philippines, Singapore, Palau and Japan, were examined by using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and molecular phylogeny based on rDNA sequences. Cells of these cultures were ovoid to spherical, measured 11.5–17.3 μm in length...

Unambiguous identification of unarmored dinoflagellates is important in distinguishing toxic from non-toxic species occurring in the coastal waters of the Philippines. In this study, molecular phylogeny inferred from rDNA sequences of Gymnodinium catenatum, Gymnodinium impudicum, and Akashiwo sanguinea-collected from Masinloc Bay, Zambales, Central...

The thecal tabulation and body scale structure of the marine armoured dinoflagellate Heterocapsa, isolated from Philippines, were examined using LM, SEM and TEM, and its phylogenetic position was inferred from ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. Cells were ovoid and the plate tabulation (Po, cp, X, 5′, 3a, 7′′, 6c, 5s, 5′′′, 2′′′′) was consistent with most...

Twenty‐six cultures of the harmful marine dinoflagellate Karlodinium, isolated from Japanese and Philippine coastal waters, were examined using LM, SEM and molecular phylogeny inferred from ITS and LSU rDNA. Seven Karlodinium species (6 from Japan and 4 from Philippines), K. australe, K. ballantinum, K. decipiens, K. gentienii, K. veneficum, K. zho...

Morphological variation, ultrastructure, pigment composition and phylogeny of an oceanic, star-shaped, unarmored dinoflagellate Asterodinium gracile were examined using a culture established from Nagasaki, Japan, in 2017. Our examinations were based on LM, SEM, TEM, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and molecular phylogeny inferred from...

A small marine dinoflagellate was isolated from fish‐kill bloom in Manila Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines, and described as a new Scrippsiella species based on the cellular morphology, thecal arrangement and molecular phylogeny inferred from internal transcribed spacer and large subunit rDNA sequences. Cells were ellipsoid, appearing teardrop‐shaped...

Fish kills in Southeast Asia are frequently associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs) and cause significant ecological and economic impacts and can have negative effects on the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems and the fisheries they support. This paper serves as a review of fish-kill events with focus on those related to HABs within the regio...

Morphology, phylogeny and azaspiracid (AZA) production of a strain of Amphidoma languida isolated from the subtropical Mexican Pacific were examined. Scanning electron microscopy showed the thecal plate arrangement of Am. languida from Mexico as Po, cp, X, 6′, 6′′, 6C, 5S, 6′′′, 2′′′′, with the prominent apical pore complex, the ventral pore on the...

The biosynthesis of an aroma compound, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, in rice is intricately regulated throughout its developmental stages, yet a comprehensive understanding of the underlying networks still needs to be discovered. This study employed meta-analysis and in silico predictions of protein-protein interactions, gene ontologies, and biological pat...

Fish kills in Southeast Asia are frequently associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs) and cause significant ecological and economic impacts. This paper serves as a review of fish kill events with focus on those related to HABs within the region. It examines the causative algal species, known mechanisms of fish mortality, and socio-economic conseq...

Morphological characteristics, phylogenetic analysis, and antioxidant activity of a marine unarmored dinoflagellate Karlodinium ballantinum were examined using a culture established from Subic Bay, Zambales in November 2022. Detailed examinations were based on light microscopy and molecular phylogeny inferred from internal transcribed spacer (ITS)...

This paper provides a review of toxic algal blooms in the Philippine and Malaysian coastal and marine systems, considering relevant available knowledge, including climate change dimension/s in the assessment of their recorded recent expansion. The first record of human toxicity in the Philippines associated with HABs/toxic algal blooms specifically...

Lipophilic marine biotoxin azaspiracids (AZAs) are produced by dinoflagellates Azadinium and Amphidoma. Recently, several strains of Azadinium poporum were isolated from Japanese coastal waters, and detailed toxin profiles of two strains (mdd421 and HM536) among them were clarified by several detection techniques on liquid chromatography-tandem mas...

The marine thecate dinoflagellate Azadinium includes species known to produce the diarrhetic shellfish toxins known as azaspiracids (AZAs). In this study, the morphology of a thecate dinoflagellate isolated from Mutsu Bay, Japan, was examined by LM and SEM, and its phylogenetic position was inferred from ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. The production o...

Fisheries damage caused by Chattonella red tide has been recorded in Southeast Asia. Molecular studies have clarified the presence of two species, Chattonella marina complex and Chattonella subsalsa in the region, unlike East Asia that had only C. marina complex. To elucidate the phylogeography of Chattonella in Asia, further phylogenetic and morph...

This is the first report on hydrodynamic models to determine current and water residence time patterns for Matarinao and Murcielagos bays in the Philippines, which have a long history of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Field surveys were conducted in Matarinao Bay in April and August 2010 and in Murcielagos Bay in February 2011. Hydrodynamic models of...

Surveillance and characterization of emerging marine toxins and toxigenic dinoflagellates are warranted to evaluate their associated health risks. Here, we report the occurrence of the ciguatera poisoning-causative dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus balechii in the Philippines. Toxin production and chemical diversity of secondary metabolites in G. balechii...

Alexandrium tamutum M.Montressor, A.Beran & U.John is a non-toxic, bloom-forming dinoflagellate species commonly reported in temperate waters. In this study, 8 cultures of A. tamutum established from Bolinao Channel and Manila Bay, Philippines were characterized in terms of their morphology, phylogeny and toxicity. Cells were roundish, measuring 25...

Red tides and associated fisheries damage caused by the harmful raphidophyte Chattonella were reassessed based on the documented local records for 50 years to understand the distribution and economic impacts of the harmful species in the Western Pacific. Blooms of Chattonella with fisheries damage have been recorded in East Asia since 1969, whereas...

Morphology and phylogeny of small armored dinoflagellate Azadinium species isolated from Japanese and Vietnamese coasts were examined by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and molecular phylogeny inferred from ITS and LSU rDNA (D1–D3) sequences. Dominant azaspiracids (AZAs) were analyzed by using liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole...

In the Southeast Asian region, the Philippines and Malaysia are two of the most affected by Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Using long-term observations of HAB events, we determined if these are increasing in frequency and duration, and expanding across space in each country. Blooms of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PST)-producing species in the Philippin...

The morphology and phylogeny of an enigmatic marine dinoflagellate were examined using LM, SEM, TEM, and molecular phylogeny inferred from rDNA. Cells were elliptical with a conical epicone and a hemispherical hypocone. They measured c. 24.7 µm long, with a cingulum descending approximately twice its own width. Amphiesmal vesicles were thick and tr...

Marine unarmored dinoflagellates in the family Kareniaceae are known to possess chloroplasts of haptophyte origin, which contain fucoxanthin and its derivatives as major carotenoids, and lack peridinin. In the present study, the first species with the peridinin-type chloroplast in this family, Gertia stigmatica gen. et sp. nov., is described on the...

Morphology and phylogenetic position of the marine harmful raphidophyte Chattonella isolated from Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines in 2013 and 2017 were examined using light microscopy and molecular phylogeny inferred from LSU rDNA and ITS sequences. Cells of Chattonella were variable in shape and typically teardrop- shaped with a roundish antapica...

Morphology and phylogenetic position of the marine harmful raphidophyte Chattonella isolated from Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines in 2013 and 2017 were examined using light microscopy and molecular phylogeny inferred from LSU rDNA and ITS sequences. Cells of Chattonella were variable in shape and typically teardrop- shaped with a roundish antapica...

In contrast to temperate Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), knowledge on the mechanisms driving tropical HABs are less well studied. The interaction of a seasonal temperature window, cysts (for certain species) and large-scale transport are some of the key processes in temperate HABs. In the Philippines, HABs occur not along long open coastlines, but in...

Isolates of Alexandrium species collected in the Philippine waters were examined during the exponential growth phase to compare their toxicities and protein expression profiles, and also to correlate protein expression with toxin production. Molecular methods showed that Alexandrium cf. pacificum was genetically divergent from Alexandrium tamarense...

Marine centric diatom was isolated from a mariculture site as a potential microalgae species for biodiesel production. Unialgal culture was developed for identification, growth curve determination and lipid quantification. Morphological characteristics suggested the similarities to Coscinodiscus centralis. Doubling time was 3.18 ± 0.50 days. The cr...

Various species of toxic dinoflagellates have been isolated from various sites in the Philippines. In this study, we characterized a number of these isolates using a molecular approach and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM). Phylogenetic analysis using genetic markers (LSU rDNA, SSU rDNA, and cytochrome oxidase b) confirmed the identity of t...

Since the first reported Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning case in Bolinao, Pangasinan in 2002, monitoring efforts has been directed toward the determination of the presence Alexandrium spp. in the area. Data on the elaboration of the identity of causative organism and seasonality including spatial distribution have been fragmented and lacking despite...

To study the complex patterns governing Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), an individual- or agent-based modeling approach was employed. The constructed model was able to mechanistically represent both the biological and the physico-chemical factors involved during events of bloom and decline of the toxic dinoflagellate, Pyrodinium bahamense var. compress...

Coastal water quality conditions in the months prior to and during the 2010 fish kill of farmed milkfish (Chanos chanos) in Bolinao and Anda, Pangasinan were determined to have high total dissolved inorganic nitrogen (0.31 - 24.2 mu M) and dissolved phosphate (0.09 - 4.47 mu M) along the Guiguiwanen and Caquiputan channels. Low N:P ratios (0.18 - 1...

Harmful algal blooms are a recurrent, expensive and at times fatal problem plaguing the Philippines. In particular, Sorsogon Bay in the Bicol region has experienced prolonged shellfish bans due to blooms by the Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning causative species Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum (Pbc). In order to help explore and understand the pop...