IDENTIFYING THE Coscinodiscus AND Coscinodiscopsis SPECIES IN THE VIETNAMESE SEA

Abstract

Phytoplankton samples were analyzed as part of several misions and projects surveyed across the waters of Vietnam from 2015 to 2025, including aquaculture areas, coastal waters, offshore waters, and deep-sea regions. A total of 21 species belonging to the genera Coscinodiscus and Coscinodiscopsis were identified based on cellular morphological characteristics such as cell shape, structure of the valvar surface. Two species, Coscinodiscus reniformis and Coscinodiscopsis sp., were recorded in Vietnamese sea for the first time. This study aims to explore species diversity as well as update the list of new species of Coscinodiscus and Coscinodiscopsis in the seawaters of Vietnam.