Chrysochromulina fragaria sp. nov. (Prymnesiophyceae), a new haptophyte flagellate from Norwegian waters

Summary

Chrysochromulina fragaria sp. nov. was one of the dominant species during the 1994 and 1995 Chrysochromulina blooms off the southern coast of Norway. It was isolated by the serial dilution culture method from a surface water sample collected during the bloom in May-June 1994. The cells are sherical, 4 to 8 µm in diameter, and possess a coiling haptonema that is shorter than the two equal to subequal flagella. Each cell contains two chloroplasts, a nucleus, and one mitochondrion, which appears to be reticulate. The periplast is covered by monomorphic scales (scale faces with identical pattern) of two types arranged in layers. The scale faces have a pattern of radiating ribs arranged in quadrants. One type has inflexed rims, whereas the other type has erect rims. The first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) rDNA sequence and scale morphology of C. fragaria are compared with that of Chrysochromulina sp. CCMP 1204. Despite the great similarities in scale morphology, their ITS1 rDNA regions are very different, indicating that they are different species. Both C. fragaria and Chrysochromulina sp. CCMP 1204 are nontoxic to Artemia franciscana nauplii.