Silica‐scaled chrysophytes (Chrysophyceae,Stramenopiles) of the Istrian Peninsula (Slovenia,Croatia) – species flourishing in humid subtropical climate

There are still blank areas on the map of distribution of silica‐scaled chrysophytes in Europe, the subtropical regions are especially understudied. Here, a survey of species from nine sampling sites from the Istrian Peninsula is provided. In total, only 17 mostly cosmopolitan or widely distributed species were recorded. A relatively low number of species per locality (3.7 on average) might be a consequence of low connectivity of freshwater bodies in the Istrian Peninsula, and higher levels of conductivity and pH, caused by carbonate and flysch bedrock. Species known to prefer or tolerate higher levels of those factors were especially prevalent in the investigated sites (e.g. Mallomonas heterospina and M. alata). Resistant silica scales make silica‐scaled chrysophytes a flagship group of organisms to study the biogeography of protists. Records of species from European humid subtropical climate regions have not been published to date, and the current paper may help to fill in the missing information.     

Developments in the taxonomy of silica‐scaled chrysophytes – from morphological and ultrastructural to molecular approaches

Taxonomy in silica‐scaled chrysophytes has gone through three morphological phases. From primary studies of the cell morphology in the 18th century, the focus was in the 20th century replaced by studies of the silica structures of the cell envelope. Now, in the latest decades the importance of DNA sequencing has been recognized, not only to support the taxonomic framework but also to obtain new understanding of taxonomic relations among particular taxa. In the first part of this review, we provide a historical overview of the developments in the taxonomy of scale‐bearing chrysophytes. In the second part, we present a phylogenetic reconstruction of chrysophyte algae, updated by newly obtained SSU rDNA and rbcL sequences of several isolated Synura, Mallomonas and Chrysosphaerella species. We detected significant incongruence between the phylogenies obtained from the different datasets, with the SSU rDNA phylogram being the most congruent with the morphological data. Significant saturation of the first rbcL codon position could indicate the presence of positive selection in the rbcL dataset. Within the Synurales, the relationships revealed by the phylogenetic analyses highlight the artificial infragenetic classification of Mallomonas and Synura, and the occurrence of cryptic diversity within a number of traditionally defined species. Finally, three new combinations are proposed based on the phylogenetic analyses: Tessellaria lapponica, Synura asmundiae and S. bjoerkii.     

Biogeographic patterns in scaled chrysophytes from the east coast of North America

1. We assessed the distribution of scaled chrysophytes in fresh waters along 3200 km of the east coast of North America (29° to 48°N) to determine any biogeographic patterns in relation to chemical, physical, climatic and spatial variables. 2. Scaled chrysophytes were identified using scanning electron microscopy and counted from 264 waterbodies in nine regions (20 subregions). Eighteen chemical, physical and climate variables were determined for each waterbody. We used Sorensen’s similarity index and analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) to evaluate whether the floras differed between regions, subregions, glaciated and non‐glaciated areas, as well as within sets of waterbodies with similar chemical and physical characteristics but situated in different regions. Distance‐based linear modelling (DISTLM) was used to evaluate the relative importance of the chemical, physical and climate factors in explaining the variability in the assemblages of scaled chrysophytes, and the resulting models were visualised using redundancy analysis (RDA). 3. Significant differences in the flora were found between all regions and most subregions, and between glaciated and non‐glaciated areas. Significant differences were also recorded between waterbodies with similar chemical and physical characteristics but situated in different regions. Many species were abundant along specific sections of the latitudinal gradient, but lacking from others. A set of environmental variables explained significant and independent portions of the variation in scaled chrysophytes, with pH and mean minimum July temperature accounting for 20% of the total. 4. The distribution of scaled chrysophytes along the east coast of North America is not homogeneous and there are biogeographic patterns, despite apparent dispersal mechanisms (migratory birds and wind events) that might act to reduce differences between regions. Rather, differences exist even between neighbouring subregions containing sites with statistically similar chemical and physical attributes. Environmental variables clearly play a significant role in determining whether species will inhabit a given site. However, species were not always found in waterbodies likely to support growth, implicating inadequate dispersal, poor transportability or both.     

Freshwater scaled chrysophytes,heliozoa and thaumatomonad flagellates from Edo State,Nigeria

A total of nine silica-scaled chrysophytes (Chrysophyceae: two species each in Spiniferomonas and Paraphysomonas; Synurophyceae: five Mallomonas species), 16 heliozoa, and two scaled flagellates were recorded from 19 samples collected from Edo State, Nigeria, over a period covering both dry and rainy seasons in 2006–2007. Identifications were based on transmission electron microscopy. Eleven are new records for Africa, including a new species of Mallomonas, M. cribridomus. Also observed were two siliceous scaled colourless free-living thaumatomonad flagellates, Thaumatomastix nigeriensis and Gyromitus limax, the latter also a new record for Africa.     

Mallomonas fuegiana (Synurophyceae), a new species of silica scaled chrysophytes from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Vigna, M. S. & Kristiansen, J. 1995. Mallomonas fuegiana (Synurophyceae), a new species of silica scaled chrysophytes from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. — Nord. J. Bot. 15: 439–442. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107–055X.
During the research project "Cryptogamic Flora of Tierra del Fuego", a new species of Mallomonas has been found. It is described here as M. fuegiana , and is placed in the section Torquatae , close to Mallomonas schwemmlii and M. dickii .     

Mosquito larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in snow-melt pools in a Swedish Lapland area.

Culicid larvae were collected in snow-melt pools during the first half of June from 1975-1977 and 1995-1996 in the Abisko Valley, Torne Lapmark, northern Sweden. Twelve species were collected from 102 pools and 81 localities with 7,914 specimens (elevations from 300 to 650 m a.s.l.). Fourteen species are now known from the area. Ten types of larval habitats were classified and ten species were statistically analyzed on pooled values over all years for abundance, coexistence, and diversity. The greatest abundance of individuals had pools with Carex spp. on the bottom. Most widespread and abundant were Oc. hexodontus (Dyar), Oc. communis (DeGeer), Oc. pullatus (Coquillett), and Oc. punctor (Kirby). The two circumpolar, arctic species, Oc. nigripes (Zetterstedt) and Oc. impiger (Walker), were mainly confined to elevations above 400 m a.s.l. In such marginal habitats as these pools, exposed to variable abitotic conditions, the phenology of species was rather constant. Species diversity varied somewhat between habitats. Oc. hexodontus, Oc. communis, and Oc. pullatus most often occupied pools as single species. Oc. communis and Oc. hexodontus had the highest values for coexistence and also occurred with Oc. punctor. The habitats that were richest in species were those without vegetation or with detritus on the bottom and surrounded by Empetrum nigrum and Betula nana. These habitats contained between eight and ten species. Species abundance and coexistence over the years showed no stable species patterns for the habitat types in the area.     

Silica-scaled chrysophytes (Synurophyceae) from some rivers and shallow lakes in Hungary

Silica-scaled chrysophytes are a special group in the phytoplankton of rivers and shallow lakes. They are present the whole year at low density, but sometimes — mainly during autumn and spring — some species can become frequent and very numerous to form real water blooms.In this study, seven species of silica-scaled chrysophytes have been recorded and identified by electron microscopy of phytoplankton samples from some rivers and shallow lakes in Hungary. Most of these silica-scaled chrysophytes have previously been found in eutrophic and hypertrophic localities, and almost all of them are common and widely distributed, even cosmopolitan. Only Synura echinulata Korshikov has not previously been recorded from Hungary. Some of them as Synura curtispina (Petersen & Hansen) Asmund, S. petersenii Korshikov, Mallomonas acaroides Perty emend. Ivanov, M. tonsurata Teiling were frequently found in the phytoplankton samples. Sometimes in autumn and winter Synura petersenii was the most abundant species in the phytoplankton and formed blooms.     

Silica-scaled chrysophytes from the bog-lake Baláta-tó, SW Hungary

Twenty-six species of silica-scaled chrysophytes representing the genera Chrysosphaerella (1 species), Mallomonas (19 species) and Synura (6 species) are reported based on transmission electron microscopy from the springtime flora of the slightly acidic bog-lake Baláta-tó, a Nature Reserve, situated in Southwest Hungary. Ten of them ( Mallomonas alata, M. clavus, M. insignis, M. mangofera, M. oviformis, M. papillosa, M. pillula, M. scalaris, M. transsylvanica and Synura multidentata ) are new records for Hungary. Furthermore, two species, M. pillula and M. scalaris are for the first time found in the Carpathian Basin and M. alata f. hualvensis is a new record for the flora of Europe. Dispersal problems are discussed.     

Individual migration patterns of Eurasian golden plovers Pluvialis apricaria breeding in Swedish Lapland; examples of cold spell‐induced winter movements

Tracking studies normally focus on long‐distance migrants, meaning that our understanding about short‐distance migration remains limited. In this study, we present the first individual tracks of the Eurasian golden plover Pluvialis apricaria, a short‐distance migrant, which were tracked from a Scandinavian breeding population using geolocators. In addition, golden plovers are known for their cold spell‐induced winter movements, and this study provides some first individual tracking data on this type of movements. In three cases the plovers spent the winter in NW Europe and in four cases they departed during winter from NW Europe to spend the rest of the winter in Iberia or Morocco (one bird that was tracked during two subsequent migration cycles moved to Iberia in the first winter but remained in NW Europe during the second winter). The four winter departures were associated with a cold spell in NW Europe during which maximum temperatures dropped to freezing. Cold spell‐induced winter movements were notably long and fast. The birds that remained at their NW European wintering site did not experience such cold spell. However, the plovers did not always move in response to freezing temperatures, as demonstrated by the individual that was tracked for a second season, when it experienced four cold spells at its wintering site in NW France without leaving. Little information was obtained about spring migration, but one bird had a prominent counter‐clockwise loop migration pattern through E Europe. Due to their cold spell winter movements, golden plovers exhibit great flexibility in migration patterns, resulting in a notably large spread in final wintering areas.     

Records of chrysophytes with siliceous scales (Mallomonadaceae and Paraphysomonadaceae) from Finnish inland waters

Seventy-three taxa of silica-scaled chrysophytes were found with LM and TEM in 264 samples from 141 Finnish water bodies, including the genera Mallomonas (40 taxa), Synura (9), Chrysosphaerella (3), Spiniferomonas (8) and Paraphysomonas (13). More than half of the taxa are recorded for the first time from Finland and five (Mallomonas actinoloma v. actinoloma, M. favosa, M. mangofera f. gracilis, M. scrobiculata and Spiniferomonas serrata) are new to Europe. Most taxa are illustrated with TEM micrographs and the taxonomy of some interesting species is discussed in detail. The seasonal occurrence of the commonest species is described.     

Preliminary investigations on the distribution of scaled chrysophytes in Vermont and New Hampshire (USA) lakes and their utility to infer lake water chemistry

A total of 38 taxa of scaled chrysophytes, representing seven genera, were observed in the surface sediments of eleven lakes in Vermont and New Hampshire, USA. The number of taxa found per lake ranged from 10 to 23, with greater diversity and abundances of scales in the New Hampshire localities. The flora was similar to those described from other temperate regions of North America and Europe. The flora described from the New Hampshire waterbodies was typical of those observed in slightly acidic, dilute lakes situated in primarily forested watersheds. The flora observed in the Vermont lakes was more typical of ones previously described from regions rich in waterbodies with both high pH and concentrations of dissolved salts. The occurrences of several rarely reported species in North America, including Mallomonas alata, M. parvulu, M. retrorsu. and Synura lapponica , are documented. It was also determined that paleolimnological inference models developed in Connecticut for pH, specific conductivity and trophic score worked well using the scale remains from the study lakes.     

Scaled chrysophytes (Chrysophyceae and Synurophyceae) from national park lakes in southern and central Finland

A total of 34 scaled chrysophyte taxa (18 Mallomonas spp., 6 Synura spp., 2 Chrysosphaerella spp., 6 Spiniferomonas spp. and 2 Paraphysomonas spp.) were recorded by SEM techniques in 61 samples from 59 lakes locating in 8 national parks of southern and central Finland in July 1987. Most of the lakes were small forest and peat bog lakes with acid (pH 4.6–7.2) and soft-water and with variable water colour (10–350 mg Pt/l). The number of taxa per lake varied from 0 to 15 and it correlated very significantly with the water pH. The species structure was rather typical for the oligotrophic and acid lakes. Besides the eurytypic and common species like Mallomonus caudata (fr. 72.1% of lakes), M. crassisquama (65.6%), M. allorgei (62.3%) and M. akrokomos (52.5%) also M. canina (41.0%) and M. hamata (21.3%) were frequently observed. M. calceolus, M. costata, M. papillosa, M. pugio and M. paludosa were more rare but typical for acid lakes. Synuru splendida which occurred in two lakes was the most rare and a new species for Finland.     

Helminth community of scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) from western Texas

Forty-eight scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) were collected during August 2002 at Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County, Texas, and examined for helminths. Eight species of helminths were found (5 nematodes and 3 cestodes), representing 2,811 individuals. Of these species, Gongylonema sp., Procyrnea pileata, and Choanotaenia infundibulum are reported from scaled quail for the first time. Prevalence of Aulonocephalus pennula, Gongylonema sp., Oxyspirura petrowi, Physaloptera sp., P. pileata, C. infundibulum, Fuhrmannetta sp., and Rhabdometra odiosa was 98, 2, 56, 4, 60, 2, 25, and 35%, respectively. Aulonocephalus pennula numerically dominated, accounting for 88% of total worms. Statistical analyses were performed on the 5 species with > or = 25% prevalence using the after-hatch-year host sample (n = 38). Prevalence of P. pileata was higher (P = 0.049) in females than in males and higher (P = 0.037) in the sample collected from the site that had spreader dams (berms 1-2 m high and 4-55 m long constructed in varying sizes to catch and retain rainfall) than the control site (no spreader dams). Higher rank mean abundance of A. pennula and O. petrowi (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0052, respectively) was found in the host sample collected from the site that had spreader dams than the control site. A host gender-by-collection site interaction (P = 0.0215) was observed for P. pileata. Findings indicate that scaled quail are acquiring indirect life cycle helminths in arid western Texas habitats.     

Onset of flowering and climate variability in an alpine landscape: a 10-year study from Swedish Lapland

Long-term studies on phenology are rarely reported from arctic and alpine areas, but are essential for understanding biotic and abiotic controls on flowering. We monitored first flowering day (FFD) for 144 species in a subarctic-alpine area in Swedish Lapland over a period of 10 yr (1992-2001). Temperature and global radiation were monitored continuously, and snowcover duration was observed. Thawing degree-days and snowcover duration (exposure) were the dominant environmental controls on phenology. We introduce a lability index (LI) to describe the interannual variability in FFD among species. The temporal sequence of species is very constant among years, although a few species are more labile. The species were also classified into the catagories "Functional type," "Raunki?r's life form," and "S?rensen's wintering floral type." The last two reflected the environmental data best, and together with "Exposure" they were combined into a phenology index (PI). The index was subsequently used in a triangular ordination together with FFD. The ordination illustrates whether species flower earlier or later than expected from their preconditions. We hypothesize that species having a delayed flowering respond more readily to global warming than species having an already optimized flowering.     

Antibiotic effects of three strains of chrysophytes (Ochromonas, Poterioochromonas) on freshwater bacterial isolates

We investigated the antibiotic effects of extracts of freeze-dried biomass and culture supernatants from the mixotrophic chrysophyte species Ochromonas danica, Poterioochromonas sp. strain DS, and Poterioochromonas malhamensis on bacterial strains isolated from lake water. Methanolic biomass extracts inhibited the growth of all tested strains, albeit to a different extent, whereas aqueous biomass extracts only affected bacteria of the genus Flectobacillus . The antibiotic action of supernatants from flagellate cultures could be mostly attributed to lipophilic substances, but the growth of bacteria affiliated with Flectobacillus and Sphingobium was also affected by hydrophilic compounds. A comparison of biomass extracts from light- and dark-adapted cultures of Poterioochromonas sp. strain DS showed that the growth-inhibiting factor was unrelated to chlorophyll derivatives. Supernatants from a dark-adapted, phagotrophically grown flagellate culture had stronger antibiotic effects and affected more bacterial strains than the supernatant from a light-adapted culture. Significant growth reduction of a Flectobacillus isolate was already induced by extremely low concentrations of lipophilic extracts from these supernatants. Our results show that metabolites of the studied flagellates − either released actively or during cell lysis − may selectively affect the growth of some aquatic bacteria even in very small doses and thus potentially affect microbial community composition. Moreover, the antibiotic potential of mixotrophic chrysophytes may change with their nutritional mode.     

Identification of interleukin‐16 (IL‐16) and interleukin‐17D (IL‐17D) genes from Dabry's sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus)

Dabry's sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus) represents an ancient Actinopterygian lineage that are termed “living fossils”. Many diseases have been found in Dabry's sturgeon. In the present study, genes encoding interleukin (IL)‐16 and IL‐17D in Dabry's sturgeon were identified by RNA‐sequencing. Phylogenetic tree analysis suggested that they clustered together with the corresponding pro‐IL‐16 proteins and IL‐17D proteins from other fish. Sequence analysis revealed that IL‐17D protein was more conserved than pro‐IL‐16. Dabry's sturgeon pro‐IL‐16 contains four putative PDZ domains and do not include signal peptides, while IL‐17D only possesses signal peptides (1–25 aa). The expression patterns of IL‐16 and IL‐17D genes were investigated in Dabry's sturgeon to reveal their functions in disease. The expression level of IL‐16 showed no significant changes in embryos; however, the high expression level of IL‐17D at 0–14 hpf (hours post fertilization) implied the existence of maternal expression in the oocyte and an association with embryonic development. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that IL‐16 and IL‐17D proteins have potential functions in immune and non‐immune tissue compartments. IL‐16 and IL‐17D had different fold changes in primary spleen leukocytes after polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration, which suggested that IL‐16 has a stronger antiviral capability compared with its antibacterial response, and IL‐17D has a stronger antibacterial capability compared with its antiviral response. IL‐16 showed an earlier response to virus compared with IL‐17D, and IL‐17D showed earlier and shorter response to bacteria compared with IL‐16. Our findings suggested the roles of IL‐16 and IL‐17D in Dabry's sturgeon, and provided the theoretical basis for the prevention and control of diseases of Dabry's sturgeon.     

Silica-scaled chrysophytes from West Greenland: Disko Island and the Søndre Strømfjord region

The flora of silica-scaled chrysophytes (Chrysophyceae and Synurophyceae) is known from two previous investigations in southern Greenland, from Narssaq (61°N) and Nuuk (64°N).
In connection with a course in Arctic Biology 25.7.-20.8 1990 chrysophyte samples were obtained from altogether 53 localities, 41 from the Godhavn region in Disko Island (69°N) and 12 from S0ndre Str0mfjord (67°N). The localities were lakes, ponds and puddles, on basalt or an acid bedrock. Fixed samples were examined by EM, and altogether twenty species were identified by their silica scales. Eight of these were new to Greenland, viz. Spiniferomonas silverensis, Mallomonas acaroides, M. alpina, M. crassisquama (previous records proved to belong to M. duerrschmidliae), M. oviformis, M. paludosa, M. tonsurata , and Synura mammillosa. The composition of the flora is discussed from ecological and biogeographic viewpoints.