Abstract
Snow algae are microalgae, growing in melting snowpacks, and are thought to act as primary producers in the snow ecosystem. Chloromonas (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae) contains more than 15 snow-inhabiting species. Although vegetative cells and zygotes, or asexual cysts, of snow species of the genus are frequently collected in the field, sexual reproduction and zygote formation in culture have only been induced in C. tughillensis. Here we describe the sexual reproduction of another snow-inhabiting species, C. fukushimae, which was induced using both previously examined and newly established Japanese strains. Mating of isogamous gametes began after mixing two different strains, implying that C. fukushimae is an outcrossing species. Motile and nonmotile zygotes of the species were also described in this report. The nonmotile zygote of C. fukushimae was distinguishable from those of the other snow-inhabiting species of Chloromonas, based on the zygote shape and the presence of several large lipid bodies within the cell. In addition, C. fukushimae carried out sexual reproduction and produced zygotes even under the nitrogen-sufficient condition.
Highlights
Snow algae, microalgae growing in melting snowpacks, are thought to act as primary producers in the snow ecosystem [1,2]
The strains of C. fukushimae used in this study showed an outcrossing feature and were classified into two complementary mating types
The present method for inducing sexual reproduction in C. fukushimae is much simpler than the previous method applied to C. tughillensis strains [12]
Summary
Microalgae growing in melting snowpacks, are thought to act as primary producers in the snow ecosystem [1,2]. Chloromonas (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae), a unicellular biflagellate genus, includes more than 15 snow-inhabiting species in addition to approximately 130 mesophilic species [2,3]. Before the snowpack melts completely, the snow-inhabiting species form zygotes or asexual cysts that later enter a dormant state [1]. Mature zygotes and cysts accumulate orange carotenoid pigments within the cell, due to a protective reaction against excessive visible and ultraviolet light.
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