Four New Species of Thraustochytrium from Antarctic Regions, with Notes on the Distribution of Zoosporic Fungi in the Antarctic Marine Ecosystems

Abstract

New species of the obligately marine Thraustochytriaceae Sparrow were discovered in subantarctic and antarctic waters of the southeastern Indian Ocean, the southwestern Pacific Ocean, and the antarctic Ross Sea during two cruises of the research vessel USNS ELTANIN. The life cycles of four species of Thraustochytrium in seawater-pollen and/or seawater-brine shrimp larvae cultures are described. Thraustochytrium antarcticum sp. nov. develops sporangia that may proliferate from a single basal rudiment. Flagellated zoospores are liberated from the sporangium upon complete disintegration of the sporangial wall at maturity. Thraustochytrium rossii sp. nov. and T. kerguelensis sp. nov. are both similar in that they develop sporangia that may proliferate from more than one basal rudiment. The latter species releases flagellated zoospores upon complete disintegration of the sporangial wall, but the former species liberates a mass of individually immobile zoospores from the sporangium. These remain quiescent for several hours before they swim away one after another. The protoplast of Thraustochytrium amoeboidum sp. nov. leaves the sporangium through a pore as an amoeboid body which then gives rise to nonflagellated amoebospores by successive bipartitioning. Laterally biflagellate thraustochytrioid zoospores were also observed, but the way in which they are formed remains to be determined. Zoosporic and aplanosporic phycomycetes were recovered from water samples collected in the Subtropical, Subantarctic, and Antarctic Zones of the Southern Ocean. Highest numbers of phycomycete propagules were found in antarctic waters near the Antarctic Convergence during ELTANIN's Cruise 51. In the Subtropical and Subantarctic (but not in the Antarctic) Zones fungal population densities increased with proximity to continents or islands. At each station where phycomycetes were recovered, highest numbers of propagules were generally found in the surface layers (25–250 m) of the ocean below the photic zone (lower limit 30–60 m). This peculiar distribution may indicate that phycomycetes are engaged in decomposing substances derived from the photic zone.