First data on the benthic assemblages of harmful microalgal species in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea).

The benthic assemblages of harmful microalgal species have been detected for the first time in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea).The most abundant species was Ostreopsis cfr. ovata, which was present in all the samples collected. The microalgal association was mostly composed of Ostreopsis cfr. ovata, Coolia monotis, Amphidinium carterae and Coscinodiscus sp., and showed features typical of both the Mediterranean and tropical assemblages.