Introduction

Problems pertaining to toxic microalgae are being worked on and discussed by many categories of researchers: ecologists, taxonomists, toxicologists, by persons involved in monitoring the environments for harmful effect of toxic algae, by politicians, journalists, etc. It is a source of confusion that the scientific ('Latin') names of the algae sometimes change when the organisms become available for more detailed studies due to improved methodology or after establishment of the organisms in pure cultures, and such changes may give rise to misunderstandings.

At the Fourth Session of the IOC Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms, Vigo, Spain, 30 June-2 July 1997, it was decided to establish a Task Team on Algal Taxonomy with the aim of providing an agreed reference list of harmful algal species, including correct citation of the author(s), date of valid publication, and a list of synonyms.

The Committee comprised:

Ø. Moestrup, Copenhagen (Chair)
G.A. Codd, Dundee
M. Elbrächter, Sylt
M.A. Faust, Washington D.C.
S. Fraga, Vigo
Y. Fukuyo, Tokyo
G. Cronberg, Lund
Y. Halim, Alexandria
F.J.R. Taylor, Vancouver
A. Zingone, Naples

During the HAB 2000 Conference in Hobart, Tasmania, February 2000, the Committee met and discussed the contents and the format of the list. Following additional discussions over the e-mail, it was decided to prepare all entries in the list as follows:

Correct name according to the International Botanical Code of Nomenclature, followed by author(s) and year it was given its present name
Basionym (the first name applied to the species, including year)
Reference to the article in which the species was first described
Reference to the article in which the species was given its present name
Type locality
Synonyms, including year
Main harmful effects
Up to (usually) 3 references with information on toxicity, toxins or toxic effects
Notes (if applicable)

The list of eukaryotic algae was completed in early 2002. The cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) will be added when the list of freshwater algae has been completed (mainly blue-green algae). In addition to a printed edition, the list will be made generally available on the internet and updated at regular intervals. Suggestions for changes and additions to the list should be forwarded to the IOC Centre on Harmful Algae in Copenhagen (Jacob Larsen, Henrik Enevoldsen), or to the person(s) responsible for preparing the relevant section of the list (see below), or to the Chairman of the Committee. The latter will evaluate the suggested changes, if needed after consultation with members of the Committee.

The List to be cited as: Moestrup, Ø. (Ed.): IOC Taxonomic Reference List of Toxic Algae, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO; ioc.unesco.org/hab/data.htm,2004.

Please contact one of the above persons if you find any errors, omissions, etc in the list. The List will be updated regularly. If you experience technical difficulties please contact webmaster Leif Bolding.

The Committee hopes to extend the list during the coming years, to include additional information, including illustrations.

The on-line version of the IOC Taxonomic Reference list of Toxic Plankton Algae is provided in cooperation with and hosted by the Institute of Biology, University of Copenhagen.