Abstract
This paper is an electron microscopical account of cryptomonad flagellates (Cryptophyceae = Cryptomonadea) in the plankton of the western Mediterranean Sea. Bottle samples collected during the spring-summer of 1998 in the Sea of Alboran and Barcelona coastal waters contained a total of eleven photosynthetic species: Chroomonas (sensu auctorum) sp., Cryptochloris sp., 3 species of Hemiselmis, 3 species of Plagioselmis including Plagioselmis nordica stat. nov/sp. nov., Rhinomonas reticulata (Lucas) Novarino, Teleaulax acuta (Butcher) Hill, and Teleaulax amphioxeia (Conrad) Hill. Identification was based largely on cell surface features, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cells were either dispersed in the water-column or associated with suspended particulate matter (SPM). Plagioselmis prolonga was the most common species both in the water-column and in association with SPM, suggesting that it might be a key primary producer of carbon. Taxonomic keys are given based on SEM.
Highlights
Cryptomonad flagellates (Cryptophyceae =Cryptomonadea) are widespread and abundant in the sea, in the pelagic environment (Haigh et al, 1992), where photosynthetic forms may be responsible for a large part of primary carbon production (Robinson et al, 1999)
Adhesion to suspended particulate matter (SPM) or other protists occurred either over a large portion of the cell surface (Figs. 1A-C), or else it was limited to a few points, as in the case of cells adhering to chitinous exofilaments produced by the haptophyte Phaeocystis (Fig. 1D)
As FIG. 1. – Cryptomonads from the Mediterranean Sea, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), HMDS-dried material, showing that the cells may occur in association with suspended particulate matter (SPM)
Summary
Cryptomonad flagellates (Cryptophyceae =Cryptomonadea) are widespread and abundant in the sea, in the pelagic environment (Haigh et al, 1992), where photosynthetic forms may be responsible for a large part of primary carbon production (Robinson et al, 1999). 2. – Cryptomonads from the Mediterranean Sea, SEM, HMDS-dried material, showing the variability of the appearance of the periplast of Plagioselmis prolonga in relation to fixation. A, the posterior tail of Plagioselmis prolonga, which has a characteristic sheet-like periplast rather than the hexagonal plates present on the main portion of the cell body; some ejectosome pores are visible.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
