THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF MITOSIS IN THE MARINE RED ALGA MEMBRANOPTERA PLATYPHYLLA1,2

Gametophyte germlings from unialgal cultures of Membranoptera platyphylla were examined with the electron microscope. The events of mitosis were observed in dividing cells near the thallus apex. In prophase the nucleus is spindle-shaped and surrounded by microtubules and a layer of endoplasmic reticulum. A unique organelle, the polar ring, is present at each pole; its junction is not clear. At metaphase the nuclear envelope is intact except for fenestrations at the poles. Spindle microtubules are attached to distinct kinetochores on the chromosomes and continuous pole-to-pole microtubules are present. The nucleolus has dispersed but, its granular components are still evident in the nucleoplasm. As the chromosomes separate, the nucleus elongates and finally constricts in the middle to produce 2 daughter nuclei.     

THE DISCOVERY OF HALICYSTIS OVALIS (LYNGBYE ARESCHOUG IN NEW ENGLAND1,2

Halicystis ovalis is recorded for the first time on the northeast coast of North America, from 12–24 m on the exposed open coast of New Hampshire.     

THALLUS DIFFERENTIATION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS,GROWTH, REPRODUCTION,AND UV‐B SENSITIVITY IN THE GREEN ALGA ULVA PERTUSA (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

The chlorophyte Ulva is perceived as a simple and uniform algal form, with little functional differentiation within a thallus. We compared morphology, pigmentation, photosynthesis, growth, reproduction, and UV‐B sensitivity between different thallus regions of Ulva pertusa Kjellman. Thallus thickness and cell size were significantly greater, whereas cell number was less in the basal region than in other regions. Photosynthetic pigment contents were lowest in the basal region and increased toward the marginal region. Photosynthetic capacity and photosynthetic efficiency normalized to fresh weight, area, volume, and cell number showed a progressive increase from the basal to marginal parts; however, on a chl basis those values were equal regardless of thallus part. Values of light saturation point were not statistically different between regions. Growth rates increased from marginal to basal and to middle parts of the thallus, whereas sporulation was highest in marginal (100%) followed by middle (30%) and basal parts (0%). Daily observation over 9 days showed that 56% of the basal cells divided once and did not produce spores, whereas every marginal cell went through its first division and 89% of the primary daughter cells also divided, resulting in 100% sporulation. A 7‐day treatment with PAR and PAR + UV‐A caused a significant decrease in the effective quantum yield of all thallus regions, followed by a recovery toward the initial values, whereas PAR + UV‐A + UV‐B irradiation led to greater photoinhibition and less recovery. Marked differences in the UV‐B sensitivity were observed, with marginal parts being more sensitive and basal parts most resistant.     

INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF PAR AND UV‐B RADIATION ON PSII ELECTRON TRANSPORT IN THE MARINE ALGA DUNALIELLA TERTIOLECTA (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

To better understand the interactions between PAR and UV‐B radiation in microalgae, the marine chlorophyte alga Dunaliella tertiolecta was subjected to a UV‐B flux of 4.1 W·m ^{? 2} (unweighted) with varying PAR fluxes. Rate constants for damage and repair processes during UV‐B exposure increased with PAR flux. However, recovery after UV‐B exposure increased with PAR up to 300 μmol quanta·m ^{? 2}·s ^{? 1} 1 Received 17 September 2002. Accepted 19 February 2003. , beyond which photoinhibition of PSII electron transport was found to decrease recovery rates. In the absence of PAR during the post UV‐B exposure period, no recovery was seen, indicating that perhaps the lack of light available for photosynthesis depresses repair either directly or indirectly by affecting ATP synthesis. Possible mechanisms for the observed interactions between PAR and UV‐B exposure are discussed.     

DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLAGELLAR APPARATUS AND FLAGELLAR POSITION IN THE COLONIAL GREEN ALGA PLATYDORINA CAUDATA (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

The ultrastructure of the flagellar apparatus in pre-inversion and inversion stages of Platydorina resembles that of Chlamydomonas in having 180° rotational symmetry and clockwise absolute orientation. Basal bodies are in a “V” configuration and connected by one distal and two proximal fibers. Alternating two- and four-membered microtubular rootlets are cruciately arranged. During maturation, the basal bodies rotate and separate, and 180° rotational symmetry is lost. Simultaneously, each proximal fiber detaches from one of the functional basal bodies, and the distal fiber detaches from both. The mature apparatus has widely separated and nearly parallel basal bodies. Flagellar orientation in Platydorina is completed just after inversion and a flattening of the colony called intercalation, resulting in the pairs of flagella of neighboring cells extending from the colony in opposite directions in an alternating fashion. Flagellar orientation and separated basal bodies minimize the interference between the flagella of neighboring cells. Basal bodies and rootlets of the two intercalated halves of a colony rotate, resulting in the effective strokes of the flagella of every cell being towards the colonial posterior. The flagella of each cell beat with an effective stroke in the direction of the two inner rootlets. The flagella have an asymmetrical ciliary type beat. The rotated, separated, and parallel basal bodies, together with the nearly parallel rootlets probably are adaptations for movement of this colonial volvocalean alga. The flagellar apparatus in immature stages of Platydorina lends support to the suggestion that the alga has evolved from a Chlamydomonas-like ancestor.     

PARTIAL PURIFICATION OF FRUCTOSE 1,6-BISPHOSPHATASE FROM THE MARINE MACR0ALGA BRYOPSIS CORTICULANS (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphntase (FRPase, EC 3.1.3.11) partially purified from the marine green seauleed Bryopsis corticulans Setch exhibited a single active Peak on a Sephadex G-200 column but two distinct peaks on a DEAE cellulose column. The two fractions shared the same molecular weight of 162,000 as revealed by gel filtration. The FBPase from Bryopsis was unstable in storage elen zlheii an appropriatr amount of 2-mercaptoethnnol was present unless Mn²⁺and glycerol uere added in the buffer. Preliminary results indicate that the FBPase is of chloroplastic origin.     

MORPHOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION OF THE RED ALGA ACROCHAETIUM PECTINATUM IN CULTURE12

The life history of the marine red alga Acrochaetium pectinatum (Kylin) Hamel was studied in unialgal culture using supplemented natural seawater media. The tetrasporophytes are larger than the gametophytes, have a compact filamentous basal system, and produce monosporangia and tetrasporangia. Mono-spores give rise to tetrasporophytes. Tetraspores develop into small gametophytes with unicellular bases. The gametophytes are heterothallic when small (usually less than 500 μ) but as some females become larger (2-3 mm) they produce spermatangia as well as carpogonia. Gametophytes may bear mono-sporangia in addition to carpogonia or spermatangia. These monospores give rise to gametophytes. Fertilization of the carpogonia has not been observed. The tetrasporophytes produce only monosporangia in day-lengths of 12-16 hr, but both tetrasporangia and monosporangia are formed in daylengths of 6–10 hr. Tetrasporangial production is reduced at 15 C compared with 10 C. Light intensity in the range of 5-200 ft-c (cool white fluorescent lighting) has no apparent influence on induction of tetrasporangia. Induction of tetrasporangia is not a photoperiodic response because their development is not inhibited by a brief light break in the middle of the dark period in short daylengths. Plastid morphology, origin, and frequency of sporangia and vegetative branching are variable during the ontogeny, and consequently are somewhat unreliable as taxonomic criteria. Differences in basal systems between gametophytes and tetrasporophytes also indicate that this feature, which is used to distinguish major subgeneric groupings in Acrochaetium, may not be as useful as previously thought.     

PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN THE SNOW: THE ALGA CHLAMYDOMONAS NIVALIS (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

Red blooms of snow algae consisting almost exclusively of large spherical red cells of Chlamydomonas nivalis (Bauer) Wille are widespread during the summer in the Beartooth Mountains in Montana and Wyoming. Field studies designed to examine the effects of temperature, light, and water potential on algal activity were performed with natural populations using photosynthetic ¹⁴C-HCO₃- or ¹⁴CO₂ incorporation as a measure of activity. The algae photo-synthesized optimally at 5.4 × 10⁴ lx, but were not inhibited by increased light intensity up to 8.6 × 10⁴ lx, the maximum observed in the field. Photosynthesis was sensitive to a reduction in water potential, and since low water potentials develop in snow at temperatures below 0 C, it is unlikely that significant algal activity occurs at the sub-0 temperatures which occur throughout winter. Photosynthesis was much lower following melting of the snow, but this was probably due to decreased diffusion of CO₂. The optimal temperatures varied considerably among the different algal populations. Most samples photo-synthesized optimally at 10 or 20 C but retained substantial activity at temperatures as low as 0 or -3 C. Exceptional samples photosynthesized optimally at 0 or -3 C. It is proposed that the varied temperature responses reflect the presence of different temperature strains. Taken together, the data suggest that development of the snow algae can occur only during the summer months.     

IDENTIFICATION AND DNA SEQUENCE OF A NEW H+-ATPase IN THE UNICELLULAR GREEN ALGA CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII (CHLOROPHYCEAE)

Insertional mutagenesis was used to identify genes involved in mating and/or zygote formation in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard. Approximately 800 insertionally mutagenized transformants were examined, and a single nonagglutinating mutant was identified. Plasmid rescue was used to clone a genomic fragment containing transforming DNA. This fragment was then used to identify the wild-type copy of the gene disrupted during mutagenesis. The wild-type gene is transcribed during all stages of the life cycle and, based on sequence similarity, encodes a P2-type proton transporting ATPase. The gene is referred to as Pmh1 for plasma membrane H ⁺ -ATPase. PMH1 displays the greatest sequence similarity to ATPases from two parasitic flagellates and a raphidophytic alga but not to the ATPase from a closely related green alga. We propose that PMH1 represents a distinct H ⁺ -ATPase isoform expressed in flagellates.     

NITROGEN METABOLISM AND AMINO ACID NUTRITION IN THE SOIL ALGA STICHOCOCCUS BACILLARIS (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

Nitrate-grown cells of Stichococcus bacillaris Naeg. (UTEX 314) contained much higher activities of glutamine synthetase (GS) and NADPH-glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) than ammonium-grown cells. Methylamine, a non-metabolizable ammonium analog, caused a decrease in GS activity in nitrate-grown cells suggesting that GS is regulated by the size of the endogenous ammonium pool. The decrease in GS observed in methylammonium-loaded nitrate-grown cells was accompanied by an increase in NADPH-GDH activity. Stichococcus bacillaris can be grown in the presence of methionine sulfoximine (MSX), a potent inhibitor of GS. However, only a fraction of a control cell population showed a requirement for glutamine or arginine for growth following MSX addition. Fully adapted MSX-grown cells were indistinguishable from control cells in their ability to photosynthesize and utilize amino acids as nitrogen sources. Alanine, arginine, asparagine, glutamine, glycine and proline were good nitrogen sources, and maximum capacity for amino acid transport was developed in cells grown on these amino acids. Compared to nitrate-grown cells the activity of GS in ammo acid-grown cells was low, whereas NADPH-GDH was very active. The activity of NADH-GDH in amino acid-grown cells was highest under heterotrophic conditions.     

DISPERSAL AND COLONIZATION OF THE EPIBIONT ALGA KORSHIKOVIELLA GRACILIPES (CHLOROPHYCEAE) ON DAPHNIA PULICARIA (CLADOCERA)

The dispersal and colonization of Korshikoviella gracilipes (Lambert) Silva on Daphnia pulicaria Forbes collected from a small high mountain lake in southern Spain were investigated in a series of laboratory experiments. Results of these laboratory experiments were related to previous field data. Massive release and detachment of zoospores, which is the dispersal stage of the epibiont, occurred just before molting. A lower number of zoospores was dispersed from the discarded molts and a scant number dispersed during the intermolt period. Release of cysts, which is the overwintering stage of the epibiont, mainly occurred immediately after the molt was discarded. The production of dispersal forms (zoospores and cysts) shows precise temporal synchronization with the molting process in Daphnia. The colonization of uninfected individuals from infected molts and from infected individuals was rapid. Our results suggest that colonization of field animals in this lake is efficient and is facilitated by the coincident aggregates of substrate and epibiont.     

TWO TYPES OF CYTOPLASMIC CLEAVAGE IN THE COENOCYTIC SOIL ALGA PROTOSIPHON BOTRYOIDES (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

Cytokinesis in the coenocytic green alga Protosiphon botryoides (Kütz.) Klebs was studied with transmission electron microscopy. In vegetative cells, nuclei with associated basal bodies and dictyosomes are scattered throughout the cytoplasm. Mature cells may develop either multinucleate resting spores (coenocysts) or uninucleate zoospores. Cytokinesis may be preceded by contraction of the protoplast due to the disintegration of vacuoles that are present in larger, siphonous cells. The formation of coenocysts in ageing, siphonous cells, is signalled by cleavage of the chloroplast and the development of arrays of phycoplast microtubules in one or more transversely oriented planes through the cell. Nuclei with associated basal apparatuses stay dispersed throughout the cytoplasm; the basal bodies apparently are not involved in organization of the phycoplast. The plasma membrane invaginates, resulting in a centripetal cleavage of the protoplast into two or more multinucleate daughter protoplasts. Simultaneously, wall material is deposited along the outside of the daughter protoplasts by dictyosome-derived vesicles, and finally two or more thick-walled coenocysts are formed. The formation of zoospores, on the other hand, is signalled by clustering of the nuclei in one or more groups depending on the shape of the mother cell. The nuclei become arranged with the associated basal apparatuses facing toward the center of the cluster. Bundles of phycoplast microtubules develop between the nuclei, radiating from the center of a cluster toward the plasma membrane; basal apparatuses or associated structures apparently are involved in organization of the phycoplast. Cleavage furrows grow out centrifugally along these bundles of micro-tubules, fed by dictyosome-derived vesicles. No wall material is deposited. An additional mitotic division occurs during cleavage, and finally numerous uninucleate, wall-less, biflagellate zoospores are formed. The ultrastructural features of the two different types of cytoplasmic cleavage associated with two different types of daughter cells have not previously been reported for chlorophycean algae.     

MANOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN THE MARINE ALGA GIGARTINA

A manometric method for measuring photosynthesis in marine algae is described. Photosynthesis in the red alga Gigartina harveyana is shown to be similar in all important respects to photosynthesis in Chlorella and other Chlorophyceae.     

ANALYSIS OF THE EXPRESSION OF GENES FOR P-TYPE ATPASE IN THE HALOTOLERANT ALGA DUNALIELLA SALINA (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

A partial complementary DNA (cDNA) (DSA8) for a P-type ATPase was obtained from the halotolerant alga Dunaliella salina (Dunal) Teod. (Chlorophyceae). The cDNA exhibited greater than 90% homology to the cDNA for a H⁺-ATPase in D. bioculata Butcher. The expression of the gene that corresponded to DSA8 was decreased strongly by increases in NaCl concentration. The expression of a gene that corresponded to another ATPase (DSA1; possibly for a Ca²⁺-ATPase) from D. salina did not show the same decrease as did the DSA8. However, increased osmotic pressure due to glycerol resulted in the same decrease in the DSA8 gene. Under salt or osmotic stress, the activity of a H⁺-ATPase from microsomes of this alga also decreased. We suggest that expression of the gene for the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase of D. salina is regulated by osmotic pressure rather than by the concentration of NaCl.     

SYSTEMATICS AND PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF THE INVASIVE RED ALGA, POLYSIPHONIA HARVEYI

Polysiphonia harveyi Bailey was first described from Connecticut in 1848 and morphologically similar species, such as P. japonica and P. strictissima , have subsequently been described many times from different localities such as Japan and New Zealand, placing the taxonomy and nomenclature of this morphologically variable species in confusion. Polysiphonia harveyi is regarded as an alien in the British Isles and the north-eastern North Atlantic and is reported to be spreading rapidly. The first confirmed collection of P. harveyi from the British Isles was in 1908; the source of the British introduction remains unknown. In conjunction with breeding data, rbc L sequences for samples of P. harveyi , P. strictissima , P. japonica and P. akkeshiensis collected from New Zealand, Atlantic and Pacific North America, Japan and Europe, reveal that P. harveyi, P. japonica and P. akkeshiensis constitute a single biological species. The correct name for this is P. harveyi , whilst P. strictissima from New Zealand is a sibling species, distinct from P. harveyi. The center of genetic diversity of P. harveyi is in Japan. The original source of the introduced P. harveyi in the British Isles, Europe and Nova Scotia appears to be Hokkaido, Japan. Separate introductions from a single source population into New Zealand and Pacific and Atlantic North America from Honshu, Japan, apparently have occurred.