Author Institution: Department of Zoology and Entomology and Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, The Ohio State Universit

Normandin, Robert F.

Taft, Clarence E.

The Ohio Journal of Science

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58 DANIEL C. ARMBRUSTER Vol. 59A NEW SPECIES OF BASICLADIA FROM THE SNAILVIVIPARUS MALLEATUS REEVEROBERT F. NORMANDIN AND CLARENCE E. TAFTDepartment of Zoology and Entomology and Department of Botany and Plant Pathology,The Ohio State UniversityThe Genus Basicladia of the Chlorophyta has been known for its specificityof habitat; the carapace of turtles. The alga was first described from turtlescollected in Michigan by Collins (1907) who placed it in the Genus, Chaetomorpha.In 1909 he again reported it from turtles collected in Massachusetts and Tiffany(1926) reported it from Iowa.Hoffman and Tilden (1930), studying material collected in Minnesota, noticeda regular tendency of branching in the basal holdfast cells of the algae. Thisbasal branching, which was also described by Collins (1907), did not correlatewith the characteristics of Chaelomorpha. The alga was redescribed as the Genus,Basicladia.The genus contained two species which were separated by the diameter of thecoenocytes and the relative length of the filaments. Basicladia crassa Hoffmanand Tilden, has a coenocyte diameter range of 50 to 120 M while the filamentlength ranges up to 2 cm. Basicladia chelonum (Collins) Hoffman and Tildenhas a coenocyte diameter range of 20 to 35 fx from the base to the apical cell, anda filament length of approximately 2 mm. Later, N. L. Gardner (1937) describeda new alga, Chaetomorpha sinensis, which G. M. Smith (1950) reassigned to thegenus Basicladia. Basicladia sinensis (Gardner) G. M. Smith has a coenocytediameter range of 60 to 95 n while the filament length ranges from 8 to 12 cm.The members of this genus have cells which are irregular, anastomosing, and withrhizoidal tendencies. The upright filaments arise sporadically from the holdfastcells. The individual coenocytes of a filament become shorter and broader frombasal to apical region resulting in a definite clublike appearance. Zoosporesescape through a lateral pore from sporangialike cells usually located in the upperpart of the filament.On June 21, 1956, a specimen of Viviparus malleatus Reeve was taken fromTerwillegar's Pond on South Bass Island, Lake Erie. Routine examination ofthe algae growing on the shell disclosed one that resembled a described species ofthe Genus, Basicladia. This was odd as the known species of the genus were well-known for their specificity of habitat; the carapace of turtles. This discoveryinstigated a more intense study of the alga.THE OHIO JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 59(1): 58, January, 1959No. 1 BASICLADIA, NEW SPECIES 59The alga consisted of clumps of nonbranching upright filaments having approxi-mately 12 to 20 cells. The gross appearance of the clump is extremely diminutiveand appears as "moss patches" under a magnification of 150 X. The shape of thecells is distinctive as they become progressively shorter and boarder towards theapex of the filament. This results in the characteristic clublike outline which ischaracteristic of the genus and is in direct correlation to the described species onturtles.The upright filaments arise from a loose basal mat composed of irregular cellswhich exhibit a tendency towards polygonal outline. The basal cells create abed of anastomosing, rhizoidal-like branches which produces the "moss patch"effect on the substrate. The upright filaments arise indiscriminately from theindividual cells of the basal mat. The chloroplast is smooth in the lower vegetativecells but is granulated and coarse in the upper coenocytes of the filament. How-ever, the chloroplast is a reticulum in both when observed under oil immersion.These granulated cells progress from ovular in the mid-filament region to sperhicalat the distal end. Many of the cells have a small, lateral, papillose swelling thatlater terminates in a pore. They should probably be considered as beingsporangia. This is in agreement with the description of the turtle species byHoffman and Tilden.The habitat of the host snail, Viviparus malleatus, is a small, shallow pondwhich is continuous with Lake Erie by means of a narrow channel. The pond isfairly well infested with both emmergent and submerged aquatic vegetation, andthe bottom consists of mud and silt. At times, heavy wind action on the lakeindirectly causes periods of water-level fluctuation and turbidity in the pond.The host snails, for the most part, are distributed along the shallow west and southpond margins. Most of the specimens collected were covered with a liberalamount of silt and mud.The following culture system was adopted in an attempt to determine whetherthe alga discovered on the snail constituted a new and separate species of theGenus, Basicladia. Several slant cultures, of both the snail and turtle species,were prepared utilizing an inorganic agar base and the sterilized scrapings fromthe shells of both the host snail and turtles. Three patches per culture tube ofeither turtle or snail periostricum scrapings were placed directly on the agar.The tubes were then innoculated with a Basicladia specimen. Control tubescontaining only the agar base were also prepared. All the tubes were kept moistand plugged with sterile cotton. The types of cultures and the respective resultsare given below. In each instance the word "Material" indicates the respectiveshell scrapings.1. Snail Basicladia on Snail Material.—The alga grew very well. Thefilaments increased in length from approximately 50 M to 370 /JL. At this pointlinear growth ceased although the nutritive material seemed to be plentiful. Theupper coenocytes increased in width and attained a sperhical shape. The chloro-plast became granulated and the whole seemed to resolve into a sporangium.At this point a tendency existed for the filaments to break into their componentcoenocytes. This particular condition was observed in all cultures whether theywere of the snail or of the turtle species.2. Snail Basicladia on Turtle Material.—The alga grew very well but didnot attain a size beyond that of an average filament from the host snail. Thefilaments and the individual coenocytes behaved as those in culture type 1.3. Turtle Basicladia on Snail Material.—The alga did not exhibit any appreci-able growth although it continued to survive. It is possible that a growth sub-stance exists in the snail material and that it supplies only the minimum require-ments for this particular species. This limiting factor, if such a factor exists atall, may explain the absence of the turtle species of Basicladia on the Viviparussnail.GO ROBERT F . NORMANDIN AND CLARENCE E. TAFT Vol. 594. Turtle Basicladia on Turtle Material.—The alga grew very well and com-pletely covered the patches of carapace scrapings. The filaments attained anapproximate length of 1/6 cm.5. Snail Basicladia on Plain A gar Base.—The alga did not grow at all. Atthe end of approximately 30 to 40 days it died.The dimensions of the filaments, as well as those of the individual coenocytes,were distinctly different than those of the known Basicladia species. The coenocytediameter ranged from 5 to 28 n from basal to apical coenocyte. An average fila-ment was approximately 0.3 mm in length from primary to apical coenocyte.Since the morphological characteristics of this epizooic alga on the snail cor-related definitely with the requirements of the Genus, Basicladia, it was identifiedwith this genus. However, since the habitat of this alga is opposed to the knownspecific habitats of the described species, B. sinensis, B. crassa, and B. chelonum,and the diagnostic diameter size range is definitely below these species, and further-more, since the cultures showed that the snail alga was specific and unique to itstype habitat, the alga is proposed as a distinct and new species of the Genus,Basicladia.Summary of SpeciesOn Turtles:1. Upright filaments reaching a diameter of 60-95 /JL; filament length 8-12cm B. sinensis2. Upright filaments reaching a diameter of 50-120 /JL; filament length 1-2cm B. crassa3. Upright filaments reaching a diameter of 35 n ov less; 12-20 /x at baseB. chelonumOn Snail, Viviparus malleatus:4. Upright filaments reaching diameter of 28 M or less; 5-10 M at baseB. viviparaBasicladia vivipara sp. nov.Filamentis erectis 0.3 to 0.35 mm alta; filamentis amplis, septatis, prostratis, irregularibusplus minusve ramosis adjunctis; filamentis substrato superficiebus adhaerentibus; filamentorumerectorum segmentis basim 5 to 10 yu diametro, superne diametro 28 /J,.Filaments green; upright filaments fairly rigid, clubshaped, clumped; individual coenocytesof filaments becoming shorter and broader from base to apex; chloroplast of basal coencytesmooth under low magnification, reticulate under oil immersion; chloroplast of medial toapical coenocytes coarse and granulated; apical cells become sporangia; filament lengthapproximately 0.3 to 0.35 mm; coenocytes diameter 5 to 28 /J. from base to apical coenocyte,basal coenocytes 5 to 10 //; upright filaments nonbranching, primary basal coenocyte confluentwith coenocytic substrate mat; mat showing rhizoidal tendencies; upright filaments arisingindiscriminately from rhizoidal cells; rhizoidal cells irregular with polygonal tendencies,diameter range 1.2 to 12.2 /x.Habitat: Shell of Viviparus malleatus, Terwillegar's Pond, South Bass Island, Put-in-bay,Ohio. Collected June 21, 1956 by Elizabeth Williams.Type: At The Ohio State University, Botany and Zoology Departments, Columbus, Ohio.Basicladia vivipara thrives on the snails during the summer months, but bythe end of this period the filaments seemed to be disappearing. During thewinter months the host snail, which was kept in an aquarium, was subjected tofairly continuous light and a constant temperature. Examination of the shellof the snail showed what appeared to be rhizoidal mats, but no filamentous growthwas observed. Shortly thereafter the snail died. Growth over a short periodBasicladia viviparaRobert F. Normandin and Clarence E. TaftPLATE IEXPLANATION OF FIGURES IN PLATE1. a-b. Mature, erect filament showing lateral pores.2. Young filament showing attachment to basal cells.3. Portion of mature filament showing protoplast of one cell entering the cell above,the broken cross wall.4. Prostate branching system showing the remains of four upright filaments.61Note62 ROBERT F. NORMANDIN AND CLARENCE E. TAFT Vol. 59was observed during the spring on the empty shell that had been left in theaquarium. The shell was degenerating, and the green clumps soon disappeared.It is significant that the alga growth was observed only on the larger snail speci-mens collected. There is a possibility that the periostricum of the snail shellcontains a growth factor for the characteristic growth of this alga. Its presencein sufficient quantity on the large snail versus that on a small snail is directlycorrelated with the previous observation. With this fact in mind, a turtle shouldbe a suitable habitat for the species. Perhaps it does exist in such a habitat, butdue to its minute size it has been overlooked.The questions pertaining to the life history, distribution, and growth-host-sizerelationship warrant further study. It is hoped that present information can besupplemented by.; further investigation.FIGURE 5. Photomicrograph of Basicladia vivipara Normandin and Taft showing the club-like appearance of the filament (Approx. X128).SUMMARYIn June 1956 a specimen of the snail Viviparus malleatus Reeve was obtainedfrom a pond on South Bass Island, Lake Erie. An alga growing on the snail shellwas identified with the Genus, Basicladia described by Hoffman and Tilden (1930).This habitat is new for this genus which previously had been recorded as beingpresent only on the carapace of turtles.The alga was cultured in an effort to determine whether it represented a newspecies for the genus. The culture technique consisted of agar slant tubes uponwhich were placed sterilized shell scrappings from both turtles and the Viviparussnail. The tubes were then innoculated with the alga.It was determined from these cultures that the alga was unique and specificto the genus both in species characteristics and habitat. It was described as thespecies Basicladia vivipara.REFERENCESCollins, F. S. 1907. Some new green algae. Rhodora 9: 198-200.Gardner, N. L. 1937. New species of Ckaetomorpha from China. Madrono 4: 28-32.Hoffman, W. F. and J. F. Tilden. 1930. Basicladia: a new genus of Cladophoraceae. Bot.Gaz. 89: 374-384.Smith, G. M. 1950. Freshwater Algae of the United States. McGraw-Hill Book Co.. N. Y.pp. 217-218.Tiffany, L. H. 1926. The filamentous algae of northwestern Iowa with special reference to theOedogoniaceae. Trans. Amer. Micr. Soc. 45: 78.

A New Species of Basicladia from the Snail Viviparus Malleatus Reeve

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A New Species of Basicladia from the Snail Viviparus Malleatus Reeve

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