Ref ID : 7738
Kenneth W. Estep, Paul G. Davis, Paul E. Hargraves, and John McN. Sieburth; Chloroplast containing Microflagellates in Natural Populations of North Atlantic Nanoplankton, their Identification and Distribution; including a Description of Five New Species of Chrysochromulina (Prymnesiophyceae). Protistologica XX(4):613-634, 1984
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Populations of North Atlantic nanoplankton were collected from ten stations at four depths on a transect from Africa to Florida and chloroplast containing cells where examined using sequential epifluorescence and electron microscopy. This technique allows protists to be divided into groups based on the presence or absence of chloroplasts, after which they can be examined and identified using electron microscopy. Of the 549 chloroplast containing protists so examined, the majority were in the class Prymnesiophyceae (53.9%). Also present in large numbers (18.6%) were unidentified biflagellates without scales or a haptonema which might, without the use of the this technique, have been classified as heterotrophic due to their superficial resemblence to Bodonid species. Members of the Chrysophyceae (12.9%) and Prasinophyceae (10.7%) were present in smaller numbers. A total of 22 previously described species were identified and five new species, Chrysochromulina elegans, C. leadbeateri, C. pelagica, C. simplex and C. tenuisquama are described. Four of the five new species were abundant, demonstrating the paucity of current knowledge of open ocean nanoplankton. Most species were widely distributed across the transect, however some species occurred only at pelagic stations, suggesting sensitivity to coastal influence.