In the present study the geographical distribution, abundance and composition of Gambierdiscus was described over a 600 km longitudinal scale in the Canary Islands. Samples for cell counts, isolation and identification of Gambierdiscus were obtained from five islands (El Hierro, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote). Average densities of Gambierdiscus spp. between 0 and 2200 cells g⁻¹ blot dry weight of macrophyte were recorded. Morphological (light microscopy and SEM techniques) and molecular analyses (LSU and SSU rDNA sequencing of cultures and single cells from the field) of Gambierdiscus was performed. Five Gambierdiscus species (G. australes, G. caribaeus, G. carolinianus, G. excentricus and G. silvae), together with a new putative species (Gambierdiscus ribotype 3) were identified. These results suggest that some cases of CFP in the region could be associated with the accumulation of ciguatoxins in the marine food web acquired from local populations of Gambierdiscus. This unexpected high diversity of Gambierdiscus species in an area which a priori is not under risk of ciguatera, hints at an ancient settlement of Gambierdiscus populations, likely favored by warmer climate conditions in the Miocene Epoch (when oldest current Canary Islands were created), in contrast with cooler present ones. Currently, warming trends associated with climate change could contribute to extend favorable environmental conditions in the area for Gambierdiscus growth especially during winter months.

在本研究中，描述了加纳利群岛600 km纵向尺度上的Gambierdiscus地理分布，丰度和组成。从五个岛屿（埃尔耶罗岛，特内里费岛，大加那利岛，费埃特文图拉岛和兰萨罗特岛）获得了用于计数，分离和鉴定甘比氏菌的样品。Gambierdiscus spp的平均密度。在0至2200个细胞之间记录了大型植物的g ^-1印迹干重。进行了Gambierdiscus的形态学（光学显微镜和SEM技术）和分子分析（LSU和SSU rDNA测序培养物和野外单细胞）。五种冈比亚犬种（鉴定出南方豆，加勒比豆，carolinianus，excentricus和silvae），以及新的推定种（Gambierdiscus核糖型3）。这些结果表明，该地区的一些CFP病例可能与从Gambierdiscus当地居民获得的海洋食物网中的雪茄毒素的积累有关。在一个先验地没有雪茄风险的地区，甘比氏菌的这种意想不到的高度多样性暗示了甘比氏菌的古老定居点与中新世时期相比，中新世时代（当时最古老的加那利群岛被创造）的气候条件有利于这些人的数量。当前，与气候变化有关的变暖趋势可能有助于扩大甘比迪斯盘菌生长地区的有利环境条件，尤其是在冬季。