A new species of Minidiscus (Diatomophyceae, Thalassiosiraceae) from the eastern English Channel, France

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Diversity of Picoplanktonic Prasinophytes Assessed by Direct Nuclear SSU rDNA Sequencing of Environmental Samples and Novel Isolates Retrieved from Oceanic and Coastal Marine Ecosystems

22 page, 6 figures, 3 tablesPicoplanktonic prasinophytes are well represented in culture collections and marine samples. In order to better characterize this ecologically important group, we compared the phylogenetic diversity of picoplanktonic prasinophyte strains available at the Roscoff Culture Collection (RCC) and that of nuclear SSU rDNA sequences from environmental clone libraries obtained from oceanic and coastal ecosystems. Among the 570 strains avalaible, 91 belonged to prasinophytes, 65 were partially sequenced, and we obtained the entire SSU rDNA sequence for a selection of 14 strains. Within the 18 available environmental clone libraries, the prasinophytes accounted for 12% of the total number of clones retrieved (142 partial sequences in total), and we selected 9 clones to obtain entire SSU rDNA sequence. Using this approach, we obtained a subsequent genetic database that revealed the presence of seven independent lineages among prasinophytes, including a novel clade (clade VII). This new clade groups the genus Picocystis, two unidentified coccoid strains, and 4 environmental sequences. For each of these seven lineages, at least one representative is available in culture. The three picoplanktonic genera Ostreococcus, Micromonas, and Bathycoccus (order Mamiellales), were the best represented prasinophytes both in cultures and genetic libraries. SSU rDNA phylogenetic analyses suggest that the genus Bathycoccus forms a very homogeneous group. In contrast, the genera Micromonas and Ostreococcus turned out to be quite complex, consisting of three and four independent lineages, respectively. This report of the overall diversity of picoeukaryotic prasinophytes reveals a group of ecologically important and diverse marine microorganims that are well represented by isolated culturesThis work was supported by a Marie Curie fellowship (EVKE-CT-1999-50004) to LG, the EU project PICODIV (EVK3-CT-1999-00021), and the following French programs: PicManche funded by the Région Bretagne, the CNRS Aventis initiative, the “Souchothèque de Bretagne” funded in the frame of the Plan Etat-Région by the Région Bretagne and the Département du Finistère, the Centre de Ressources Biologiques, and the CNRS PROOF programs PROSOPE and BIOSOPEPeer Reviewe

Characterization of Phaeocystis globosa (Prymnesiophyceae), the blooming species in the Southern North Sea

Despite significant research dedicated to the marine genus Phaeocystis, which forms large blooms in the coastal waters of the Southern North Sea, some aspects of the taxonomy and biology of this species still suffer from a sketchy knowledge. It is currently admitted that P. globosa is the species that blooms in the Southern North Sea. This has however, never been confirmed by SSU rDNA sequencing which constitutes nowadays, together with the morphology of the haploid flagellate, a reliable taxonomic criterion to distinguish between Phaeocystis species. Also, although the fine morphology of the haploid scaly flagellate is well known, there is a lack of comparable and harmonized description of the other cell types, i.e. colonial cells and diploid flagellates, previously identified within the Phaeocystis life cycle. In this study, we used SSU rDNA sequencing, light and electron scanning microscopy and flow cytometry to identify and characterize three cell types produced in controlled and reproducible manner from two strains of Phaeocystis isolated from the Belgian coastal zone. Our morphometry and sequencing data confirm unambiguously that P. globosa is the species that blooms in the Southern North Sea, but suggest in addition that both strains are representative of the original P. globosa Scherffel. Our study compares, for the first time since the species description, the fine morphometry and ploidy features of diploid colonial cells, diploid and haploid flagellates originating from same strains, providing therefore unambiguous identification criteria for distinguishing them from each other. The diploid stage, colonial or flagellated cell, is thus characterized by a naked surface, has a size range nearly twice that of the haploid flagellate and do not produce the chitinous filaments specific of the haploid stage. Colonial cells lack flagella and haptonema but possess on their apical side two appendages, which elongate to form the flagella of the diploid flagellate