Taxonomy and phylogeny of a new kleptoplastidal dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium myriopyrenoides sp. nov. (Gymnodiniales, Dinophyceae), and its cryptophyte symbiont

A new kleptoplastidal dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium myriopyrenoides sp. nov., was described using light microscopy, electron microscopy and phylogengetic analysis based on partial LSU rDNA sequences. Cells were dorsiventrally flattened, elongate-elliptical in ventral view. There was no displacement of the cingulum encircling the anterior part of the cell. The cingulum was curved posteriorly at the terminal junction with the sulcus. The sulcus was generally narrow but expanded in the posterior end. The epicone possessed an apical groove made of one and one-half counterclockwise revolutions. Phylogenetic analysis based on LSU rDNA showed that the sequence of G. myriopyrenoides was included in the Gymnodiniales sensu stricto clade and had special affinities with the species Amphidinium poecilochroum and Gymnodinium acidotum, which also harbor kleptochloroplasts. Phylogenetic analysis based on plastid-encoded SSU rDNA and ultrastructural observations suggested that the symbionts of G. myriopyrenoides were cryptophytes of the genus Chroomonas or Hemiselmis. Organelles including the nucleus, the nucleomorph, mitochondria, Golgi bodies and large chloroplasts remained in the cytoplasm of the symbionts, but not the periplast, ejectosomes or flagellar apparatus. The symbiotic level of G. myriopyrenoides was estimated to be a relatively early stage in the unarmored kleptoplastidal dinoflagellates.     

THE MICROTUBULAR CYTOSKELETON OF AMPHIDINIUM RHYNCHOCEPHALUM (DINOPHYCEAE)1

The sub-thecal microtubular cytoskeleton of Amphidinium rhynchocephalum Anissimowa was investigated using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The majority of sub-thecal microtubules are longitudinally oriented and radiate from one of two sub-thecal transverse microtubular bands that lie adjacent to the anterior and posterior edge of the cingulum.Both transverse bands consist of 3–5 microtubules and are loop shaped with one end adjacent to the cell's right edge of the sulcus and the other end adjacent to the fibrous ventral ridge. The posterior transverse microtubular band (PTB) defines the posterior edge of the cingulum and gives rise to numerous posteriorly directed longitudinal microtubular bundles that consist of 1–3 microtubules per bundle. These bundles end at the posterior end of the cell. The PTB also gives rise to the cingular longitudinal microtubules that underlie the cingular groove and terminate at the anterior transverse microtubular band (ATB). The ATB defines the anterior edge of the cingulum and loops around the base of the epicone. This band gives rise to anteriorly directed longitudinal microtubular bundles that terminate in the small epicone of the cell. The longitudinal microtubular root of the flagellar apparatus is directed posteriorly and lies immediately beneath the theca but is distinct from the subthecal microtubule system. A narrow fibrous ridge is ventrally located to the cell's left between the exit apertures of the transverse and longitudinal flagella. In this position, the ventral ridge lies between and also connects with the anterior and posterior transverse microtubular bands. The ventral ridge is also associated with three microtubules that are distinct from other cytoskeletal microtubules. Our results demonstrate that the majority of sub-thecal microtubules originate from one of two microtubular bands associated with the cingulum. The possible role of the fibrous ventral ridge and its associated microtubules is also discussed.     

Genetic diversity, morphological uniformity and polyketide production in dinoflagellates (Amphidinium, Dinoflagellata)

Dinoflagellates are an intriguing group of eukaryotes, showing many unusual morphological and genetic features. Some groups of dinoflagellates are morphologically highly uniform, despite indications of genetic diversity. The species Amphidinium carterae is abundant and cosmopolitan in marine environments, grows easily in culture, and has therefore been used as a 'model' dinoflagellate in research into dinoflagellate genetics, polyketide production and photosynthesis. We have investigated the diversity of 'cryptic' species of Amphidinium that are morphologically similar to A. carterae, including the very similar species Amphidinium massartii, based on light and electron microscopy, two nuclear gene regions (LSU rDNA and ITS rDNA) and one mitochondrial gene region (cytochrome b). We found that six genetically distinct cryptic species (clades) exist within the species A. massartii and four within A. carterae, and that these clades differ from one another in molecular sequences at levels comparable to other dinoflagellate species, genera or even families. Using primers based on an alignment of alveolate ketosynthase sequences, we isolated partial ketosynthase genes from several Amphidinium species. We compared these genes to known dinoflagellate ketosynthase genes and investigated the evolution and diversity of the strains of Amphidinium that produce them.     

Ankistrodinium armigerum sp. nov. (Dinophyceae), a new species of heterotrophic marine sand‐dwelling dinoflagellate from Japan and Australia

A new heterotrophic sand‐dwelling dinoflagellate, Ankistrodinium armigerum K. Watanabe, Miyoshi, Kubo, Murray et Horiguchi sp. nov., is described from Ishikari Beach, Hokkaido, Japan and Port Botany, NSW, Australia. The dinoflagellate is laterally compressed, possessing a short triangular epicone and a large sac‐like hypocone. It possesses a right‐handed cingulum and a deeply‐incised sulcus. The sulcus descends towards the posterior of the cell where it becomes much deeper and wider, resulting in a bilobed ventral side to the hypocone, with a greater excavation of the left lobe than the right. In addition, the right lobe of the hypocone is shorter than the left lobe, which allows a partial view of the left sulcal wall when the cell is viewed from its right side. The sulcus ascends in the epicone to form an apical groove. The apical groove is linear but terminates in an ellipsoid fashion and its extremity approaches, but does not form a closed loop with the apical end of the linear portion. The dinoflagellate possesses two distinct size classes of trichocysts. The large trichocysts are located in the posterior part of the cell, while small trichocysts are distributed throughout the cell. The dinoflagellate shares morphological characteristics with the heterotrophic sand‐dwelling dinoflagellate, Ankistrodinium semilunatum, the type species of the genus. These include a laterally compressed cell, a right‐handed cingulum, a deeply‐incised sulcus and the same basic structure to the apical groove. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on small and large subunits of rDNA showed that in both trees, A. semilunatum and A. armigerum formed a robust clade, suggesting that these two species are closely related. Because no organism with the characteristics of this species exists and because this species is closely related to A. semilunatum, we concluded that this species should be described as a second species of the genus Ankistrodinium.     

Steinernema akhursti sp. n. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) from Yunnan, China

A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, herein described as Steinernema akhursti sp. n., was recovered from soil samples collected from Yunnan Province, the People's Republic of China. Both morphological and molecular data show congruently that S. akhursti sp. n. belongs to the Steinernema feltiae group. It can be separated from all described Steinernema species by the combined morphological and morphometrical characters of various stages of the nematodes. For the first generation male, the new species can be recognized by spicule length 90 +/- 4.6 microm, spicule tip blunt with an aperture on the ventral side, gubernaculum with a long and needle-shaped cuneus, and tail conoid with a prominent mucron on the tip and a concave on ventral side. For the infective juvenile, the combination of the following characters: body length 812 +/- 19 microm, distance from anterior end to excretory pore 59 +/- 1.5 microm, tail length 73 +/- 2.9 microm, E% 77 +/- 4.5, lateral field with six evenly distributed and identical ridges at the middle body portion, and tail with long and slightly constrict hyaline portion can be used to separate the new species from other nematodes. For the female, the new species is characterized by: tail conoid with a short mucron and slightly swelling anal portion and a symmetrical, slightly protruding vulva with conspicuous double-flapped epiptygma. The nematode can be separated from other described species of Steinernema by DNA sequences of either a partial 28S rDNA or the internal transcribed spacer regions of rDNA and from the closely related species S. feltiae and Steinernema oregonense by cross-breeding tests.     

东海剧毒卡尔藻的形态特征及其系统进化分析

利用光学显微镜、荧光显微镜、扫描电镜及分子生物学等方法, 对分布于我国东海海域的剧毒卡尔藻（Karlodinium veneficum）藻株（LAMB090611）的形态特征和显微结构进行了描述, 并探讨了其分子系统进化关系。该藻株细胞长11.1-18.7 μm, 平均值为（14.2±1.8） μm, 宽8.2-14.7 μm, 平均值为（10.8±1.5） μm。细胞形态结构特征为： 上下锥体积基本相同; 顶沟短而直; 腹孔明显; 纵沟延伸至上锥; 横沟错位距离约占细胞总长的28%-38%; 含有2或4个不规则形态的叶绿体; 细胞核位于中部或下锥。此藻种的暴发可引发有害赤潮（harmful algal bloom）。当前加强有害赤潮的预防和监测工作是减少危害的有效途径, 而对引发赤潮原因种的准确识别和鉴定则是基础和关键。     

Cochlodinium fulvescens sp. nov. (Gymnodiniales, Dinophyceae), a new chain-forming unarmored dinoflagellate from Asian coasts

Cellular morphology and the phylogenetic position of a new unarmored photosynthetic dinoflagellate Cochlodinium fulvescens Iwataki, Kawami et Matsuoka sp. nov. were examined by light microscopy and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on partial large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) and small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequences. The cells of C. fulvescens closely resemble C. polykrikoides, one of the most harmful red tide forming dinoflagellates, due to it possessing a cingulum encircling the cell approximately twice, a spherical nucleus positioned in the anterior part of the cell and an eyespot‐like orange pigmented body located in the dorsal side of the epicone, as well as formation of cell‐chains. However, this species is clearly distinguished from C. polykrikoides based on several morphological characteristics, namely, cell size, shape of chloroplasts and the position of narrow sulcus situated in the cell surface. The sulcus of C. fulvescens is located at the intermediate position of the cingulum in the dorsal side, whereas that of C. polykrikoides is situated immediately beneath the cingulum. LSU rDNA phylogenies indicated that C. fulvescens is clearly distinct from, but closely related to C. polykrikoides among dinoflagellates.     

The microtubular cytoskeleton of three dinoflagellates: an immunofluorescence study

Summary The sub-thecal microtubular cytoskeleton of the dinoflagellatesAmphidinium rhynchocephalum, Gymnodinium sanguineum, andGymnodinium. sp has been investigated by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. In these cells, the majority of cytoskeletal microtubules lie in the anterior-posterior plane. These longitudinal microtubules clearly originate from one of two radially arranged microtubular bands that correspond in location with the anterior and posterior edge of the cingolar depression. Despite the morphological variability of these gymnodinioid dinoflagellates, our data indicate that the microtubular cytoskeleton perfectly reflects the spatial patterning of the epicone and hypocone in each cell.Abbreviations ALB Anterior longitudinal microtubular bundles - ATB Anterior transverse microtubular bands - C cingulum - CLB Cingular longitudinal microtubular bundles - E Epicone - H Hypocone - PLB Posterior longitudinal microtubular bundles - PTB Posterior transverse microtubular bands - S Sulcus     

Dinoflagellate expressed sequence tag data indicate massive transfer of chloroplast genes to the nuclear genome

The peridinin-pigmented plastids of dinoflagellates are very poorly understood, in part because of the paucity of molecular data available from these endosymbiotic organelles. To identify additional gene sequences that would carry information about the biology of the peridinin-type dinoflagellate plastid and its evolutionary history, an analysis was undertaken of arbitrarily selected sequences from cDNA libraries constructed from Lingulodinium polyedrum (1012 non-redundant sequences) and Amphidinium carterae (2143). Among the two libraries 118 unique plastid-associated sequences were identified, including 30 (most from A. carterae) that are encoded in the plastid genome of the red alga Porphyra. These sequences probably represent bona fide nuclear genes, and suggest that there has been massive transfer of genes from the plastid to the nuclear genome in dinoflagellates. These data support the hypothesis that the peridinin-type plastid has a minimal genome, and provide data that contradict the hypothesis that there is an unidentified canonical genome in the peridinin-type plastid. Sequences were also identified that were probably transferred directly from the nuclear genome of the red algal endosymbiont, as well as others that are distinctive to the Alveolata. A preliminary report of these data was presented at the Botany 2002 meeting in Madison, WI.     

Collodictyon triciliatum and Diphylleia rotans (=Aulacomonas submarina) form a new family of flagellates (Collodictyonidae) with tubular mitochondrial cristae that is phylogenetically distant from other flagellate groups

Comparative electron microscopic studies of Collodictyon triciliatum and Diphylleia rotans (=Aulacomonas submarina) showed that they share a distinctive flagellar transitional zone and a very similar flagellar apparatus. In both species, the basic couple of basal bodies and flagella #1 and #2 are connected to the dorsal and ventral roots, respectively. Collodictyon triciliatum has two additional basal bodies and flagella, #3 and #4, situated on each side of the basic couple, each of which also bears a dorsal root. The horseshoe-shaped arrangement of dictyosomes, mitochondria with tubular cristae and the deep ventral groove are very similar to those of Diphylleia rotans. These two genera have very specific features and are placed in a new family, Collodictyonidae, distinct from other eukaryotic groups. Electron microscopic observation of mitotic telophase in Diphylleia rotans revealed two chromosomal masses, surrounded by the nuclear envelope, within the dividing parental nucleus, as in the telophase stage of the heliozoan Actinophrys and the helioflagellate Dimorpha. Spindle microtubules arise from several MTOCs outside the nucleus, and several microtubules penetrate within the dividing nucleus, via pores at the poles. This semi-open type of orthomitosis is reminiscent of that of actinophryids. The SSU rDNA sequence of Diphylleia rotans was compared with that of all the eukaryotic groups that have a slow-evolving rDNA. Diphylleia did not strongly assemble with any group and emerged in a very poorly resolved part of the eukaryotic phylogenetic tree.     

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE DINOFLAGELLATE FLAGELLAR APPARATUS IV. GYMNODINIUM ACIDOTUM1

Gymnodinium acidotum Nygaard is a freshwater dinoflagellate that is known to harbor a cryptomonad endosymbiont whose chloroplasls give the organism an overall blue-green color. The ultrastructure of G. acidotum was examined with particular attention being given to the three dimensional nature of the flagellar apparatus. The fiagellar apparatus is composed of two functional basal bodies that are slightly offset and lie at an angle of approximately 90° to one another. As in other dinoflagellates the transverse basal body is associated with a striated, fibrous root that extends from the proximal end of the basal body to the transverse flagellar opening. At least one microtubular root extends from the proximal end of the transverse basal body, and a multi-membered longitudinal microtubular root is associated with the longitudinal basal body. The most striking feature of the flagellar apparatus of G. acidotum is the large fibrous connective that extends from the region of the proximal ends of the basal bodies to the cingulum on the dorsal side of the cell. A similar structure has been reported from only one other dinoflagellate, Amphidinium cryophilum Wedemayer, Wilcox, and Graham. The presence of this structure as well as similarities in external morphology suggest thai these two species may be more closely related to each other than either is to other gymnodinioid taxa. The taxonomic importance of dinoflagellate flagellar apparatus components is discussed.     

Amphidiniella sedentaria gen. et sp. nov. (Dinophyceae), a new sand-dwelling dinoflagellate from Japan

A new sand-dwelling dinoflagellate is described from Sesoko Beach, Okinawa Island, subtropical Japan and its micromorphology is studied by means of light and electron microscopy. The cell consists of a small epitheca and a large hypothecs superficially resembling members of the unarmored genus Amphidinium. The cell is dorso-ventrally flattened and possesses a single chloroplast with a large conspicuous pyrenoid. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the dinoflagellate possesses typical dinoflagellate cellular organization. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the organism is thecate and the thecal plate arrangement is Po, 4′, 1a, 7″, 5c, 4s, 6″′, 2″″. Most of the characteristics suggest gonyaulacalean affinity of the new species. These are the presence of ventral pore, lack of canal plate, direct contact between the sulcal anterior plate and the flagellar pore, possession of six postcingular plates and asymmetrical arrangement of the antapical plates. Affinity to existing families of the order Gonyaulacales has not been determined. Based on the unique cell shape, thecal plate arrangement and the presence of ventral pore, a new genus, Amphidiniella, is established for this organism and the species is named A. sedentaria Horiguchi gen. et sp. nov.     

Description of a New Planktonic Mixotrophic Dinoflagellate Paragymnodinium shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp. from the Coastal Waters off Western Korea: Morphology,Pigments, and Ribosomal DNA Gene Sequence

ABSTRACT. The mixotrophic dinoflagellate Paragymnodinium shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp. is described from living cells and from cells prepared by light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, sequences of the small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) rDNA and photosynthetic pigments are reported. The episome is conical, while the hyposome is hemispherical. Cells are covered with polygonal amphiesmal vesicles arranged in 16 rows and containing a very thin plate‐like component. There is neither an apical groove nor apical line of narrow plates. Instead, there is a sulcal extension‐like furrow. The cingulum is as wide as 0.2–0.3 × cell length and displaced by 0.2–0.3 × cell length. Cell length and width of live cells fed Amphidinium carterae were 8.4–19.3 and 6.1–16.0 μm, respectively. Paragymnodinium shiwhaense does not have a nuclear envelope chamber nor a nuclear fibrous connective (NFC). Cells contain chloroplasts, nematocysts, trichocysts, and peduncle, though eyespots, pyrenoids, and pusules are absent. The main accessory pigment is peridinin. The sequence of the SSU rDNA of this dinoflagellate (GenBank AM408889) is 4% different from that of Gymnodinium aureolum, Lepidodinium viride, and Gymnodinium catenatum, the three closest species, while the LSU rDNA was 17–18% different from that of G. catenatum, Lepidodinium chlorophorum, and Gymnodinium nolleri. The phylogenetic trees show that this dinoflagellate belongs within the Gymnodinium sensu stricto clade. However, in contrast to Gymnodinium spp., cells lack nuclear envelope chambers, NFC, and an apical groove. Unlike Polykrikos spp., which have a taeniocyst–nematocyst complex, P. shiwhaense has nematocysts without taeniocysts. In addition, P. shiwhaense does not have ocelloids in contrast to Warnowia spp. and Nematodinium spp. Therefore, based on morphological and molecular analyses, we suggest that this taxon is a new species, also within a new genus.     

一种有效去除赤潮生物的粘土复合体系

以粘土为主要成分,通过添加A、B两组分制备出能有效去除赤潮生物的粘土复合体系．设计了三因子三水平正交实验,考察了该体系对锥状斯克里普藻(Scrippsiella trochoidea)、强壮前沟藻(Amphi-dinium carterae)和赤潮异弯藻(Heterosigma akashiuo)的去除率,探讨了具有较高去除赤潮生物效果的复合体系对日本对虾(Penaeus japonicus)仔虾(体长1～1．5cm)的影响．结果表明,该体系对3种赤潮生物的去除能力为：锥状斯克里普藻>强壮前沟藻>赤潮异弯藻,各因子中粘土对赤潮生物去除效果的影响最大．日本对虾仔虾急性毒性实验结果表明,96h时对照组日本对虾仔虾死亡率高达80％,加入粘土和组分A、B的Ⅰ、Ⅱ及Ⅲ组死亡率均低于40％,适当浓度的组分A、B可以提高赤潮生物的去除率而对养殖生物无害,表明该复合体系具有较好的推广和应用前景．     

Reconstruction of the flagellar apparatus in Ploeotia costata (Euglenozoa) and its relationship to other euglenoid flagellar apparatuses

The flagellar apparatus of Ploeotia costata Farmer and Triemer was reconstructed using serial sectioning and TEM. The flagellar apparatus is similar to other euglenoids having two flagella arising from basal bodies connected by a striated fiber, and three asymmetrically arranged roots. The flagella emerge subapically from between the two ventral pellicle strips. The dorsal flagellum is 1/2 the body length and actively pulls the cell, while the ventral flagellum is twice the body length and drags along the substrate surface. The ventral and dorsal roots are on the opposite sides of their respective basal bodies, while the intermediate root is associated with the ventral flagellum on the side closest to the dorsal basal body. The dorsal root lines the dorsal side of the reservoir and after giving rise to the dorsal band lines the right side of the reservoir/canal. The ventral and intermediate roots join at the reservoir forming the intermediate-ventral root, which lines the left and ventral sides of the reservoir/canal. There was no evidence of a microtubule-reinforced pocket in P. costata. Comparisons with Ploeotia vilrea, Lentomonas applanatum, and related flagellar apparatuses led to the conclusion that the basic euglenoid flagellar structure is symplesiomorphic but with enough variation to be taxonomically diagnostic.     

Feeding by the newly described, nematocyst-bearing heterotrophic dinoflagellate Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense

We explored the feeding ecology of the newly described, nematocyst-bearing heterotrophic dinoflagellate Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense (GenBank accession number=FR720082). Using several different types of microscopes and high-resolution video-microscopy, we investigated feeding behavior and types of prey species that G. shiwhaense feeds upon. Additionally, we measured its growth and ingestion rates on its optimal algal prey, the cryptophyte Teleaulax sp. and the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae, as a function of prey concentration. These rates were measured for other edible prey at single prey concentrations at which the growth and ingestion rates of G. shiwhaense were saturated. After anchoring the prey with a tow filament, G. shiwhaense fed using a peduncle, ingesting small algal species with equivalent spherical diameters (ESDs) of <13 μm. However, it did not feed on larger algal species that had ESDs≥13 μm or the small diatom Skeletonema costatum. The specific growth rates for G. shiwhaense feeding upon Teleaulax sp. and A. carterae increased rapidly with increasing mean prey concentration before saturating at concentrations of ca. 180-430 ng C/ml. The maximum specific growth rate of G. shiwhaense on Teleaulax sp. and A. carterae were 1.05 and 0.82/d, respectively. However, Heterosigma akashiwo did not support positive growth of G. shiwhaense. The maximum ingestion rates of G. shiwhaense on Teleaulax sp. and A. carterae were 0.35 and 0.54 ng C/grazer/d, respectively. The calculated grazing coefficients attributable to G. shiwhaense on co-occurring cryptophytes and Amphidinium spp. were 0.01-1.87/d and 0.08-2.60/d, respectively. Our results suggest that G. shiwhaense can have a considerable grazing impact on algal populations.     

Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp., a new planktonic heterotrophic dinoflagellate from the coastal waters of western Korea: morphology and ribosomal DNA gene sequence

The heterotrophic dinoflagellate Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp. is described from live cells and from cells prepared for light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Also, sequences of the small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) of rDNA have been analyzed. The episome is conical, while the hyposome is ellipsoid. Cells are covered with polygonal amphiesmal vesicles arranged in 16 horizontal rows. Unlike other Gyrodinium-like dinoflagellates, the apical end of the cell shows a loop-shaped row of five elongate amphiesmal vesicles. The cingulum is displaced by 0.3-0.5 × cell length. Cells that were feeding on the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae Hulburt were 9.1-21.6 μm long and 6.6-15.7 μm wide. Cells of G. shiwhaense contain nematocysts, trichocysts, a peduncle, and pusule systems, but they lack chloroplasts. The SSU rDNA sequence is >3% different from that of the six most closely related species: Warnowia sp. (FJ947040), Lepidodinium viride Watanabe, Suda, Inouye, Sawaguchi & Chihara, Gymnodinium aureolum (Hulburt) Hansen, Gymnodinium catenatum Graham, Nematodinium sp. (FJ947039), and Gymnodinium sp. MUCC284 (AF022196), while the LSU rDNA is 11-12% different from that of Warnowia sp., G. aureolum, and Nematodinium sp. (FJ947041). The phylogenetic trees show that the species belongs in the Gymnodinium sensu stricto clade. However, in contrast to Gymnodinium spp., cells lack nuclear envelope chambers and a nuclear fibrous connective. Unlike Polykrikos spp., cells of which possess a taeniocyst-nematocyst complex, G. shiwhaense has nematocysts but lacks taeniocysts. It differs from Paragymnodinium shiwhaense Kang, Jeong, Moestrup & Shin by possessing nematocysts with stylets and filaments. Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp. furthermore lacks ocelloids, in contrast to Warnowia spp., Nematodinium spp., and Proterythropsis spp. Based on morphological and molecular data, we suggest that the taxon represents a new species within a new genus.     

AMPHIDINIUM CRYOPHILUM SP. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE) A NEW FRESHWATER DINOFLAGELLATE. I. SPECIES DESCRIPTION USING LIGHT AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY1

Amphidinium cryophilum sp. nov. was found in the fall of 1979 in a small pond near Madison, Wisconsin. During the ensuing winter, it became the dominant phytoplankter. Cell numbers remained high despite a thick layer of ice and snow. After the ice melted in the spring the organism disappeared from plankton samples. A successful culture of A. cryophilum was established only when isolates were incubated at 5–7° C. It is compared with two morphologically similar species, A. amphidinioides (Geitler) Schiller and Gymnodinium inversum Nygaard. Amphidinium cryophilum is distinguished from the former by its pigmentation (golden-yellow vs. blue-green), the location of the cingulum, and its lack of an eyespot. It differs from the latter in cell shape, the route of the sulcus and position of the nucleus.