NEW OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEIOTIC PROCESS IN THE MARINE DINOFLAGELLATE NOCTILUCA SCINTILLANS (NOCTILUCALES, DINOPHYCEAE)

The meiotic process in Noctiluca scintillans were observed under light microscope. Some abnormal cell divisions, incompletely separated "zoospores" and the changes of the zoospores are described in this paper. Together with the findings of field samplings and the previous results by other researchers, the process of meiosis in N. scintillans was supposed to be a pathway to reduce the extra high density of NH 3-N within the cell in order to ensure normal population growth.