Encystment of Peridinium gatunense: occurrence, favourable environmental conditions and its role in the dinoflagellate life cycle in a subtropical lake

Summary 1. The abundance of cysts of the bloom‐forming dinoflagellate Peridinium gatunense in the sediments of Lake Kinneret and the effects of environmental conditions on encystment were studied in relation to bloom dynamics. Peak cyst formation coincided with the highest growth rate of the population, prior to bloom peak. 2. Peridinium cysts were counted in water and sediment corer samples from…