Benthic dinoflagellates of the toxigenic genus Coolia Meunier (Dinophyceae) are known to have a global distribution in both tropical and temperate waters. The type species, C. monotis, has been reported from the Mediterranean Sea, the NE Atlantic and from Rhode Island, USA in the NW Atlantic, whereas other species in the genus have been reported from tropical locations. Coolia cells were observed in algal drift samples collected at seven sites in Nova Scotia, Canada. Clonal isolates were established from four of these locations and identified with light and scanning electron microscopy, then confirmed with genetic sequencing to be C. monotis. This is the first record of this species in Nova Scotia. The isolates were established and incubated at 18 °C under a 14:10 L:D photoperiod with an approximate photon flux density of 50–60 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Growth experiments using an isolate from Johnston Harbour (CMJH) were carried out at temperatures ranging from 5 to 30 °C under the same photoperiod with an approximate photon flux density of 45–50 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Cells tolerated temperatures from 5 to 25 °C with optimum growth and mucilage aggregate production between 15 and 20 °C. Methanol extracts of this isolate examined by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS) did not show the presence of the previously reported cooliatoxin. Toxic effects were assayed using two zebrafish bioassays, the Fish Embryo Toxicity (FET) assay and the General Behaviour and Toxicity (GBT) assay. The results of this study demonstrate a lack of toxicity in C. monotis from Nova Scotia, as has been reported for other genetically-confirmed isolates of this species. Conditions in which cell growth that could potentially degrade water quality and provide substrate and dispersal mechanisms for other harmful microorganisms via mucilage production are indicated.

已知有毒的Coolia Meunier（Dinophyceae）属的底鞭毛鞭毛虫在热带和温带水域均具有全球分布。已经从地中海，东北大西洋和西北大西洋的美国罗得岛报道了C. monotis类型的物种，而在热带地区也报道了该属的其他物种。在加拿大新斯科舍省七个地点收集的藻类漂移样品中观察到了苦力细胞。从这些位置中的四个位置建立克隆分离株，并通过光镜和扫描电子显微镜进行鉴定，然后通过基因测序确认为单核梭菌。。这是该物种在新斯科舍省的第一个记录。建立分离株，并在18：C的14:10 L：D光周期下以大约50–60μmolm ^-2  s ^-1的光子通量密度孵育。使用约翰斯顿港分离物（CMJH）进行的生长实验在5至30°C的温度下在相同的光周期下进行，光子通量密度约为45–50μmolm ^-2  s ^-1。细胞可承受5至25°C的温度，在15至20°C之间具有最佳的生长和黏液聚集体产生。通过液相色谱-质谱法（LC-MS）检测的该分离物的甲醇提取物未显示先前报道的cooliatoxin。使用两种斑马鱼生物测定法（鱼类胚胎毒性（FET）测定法和一般行为和毒性（GBT）测定法）来测定毒性作用。这项研究的结果表明，新斯科舍省的单核梭菌缺乏毒性，正如该物种的其他经过基因确认的分离株所报道的那样。指出了可能通过粘液产生而潜在地降低水质并为其他有害微生物提供底物和分散机制的细胞生长条件。