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Duboscquella cachoni N. Sp., a Parasitic Dinoflagellate Lethal to Its Tintinnine Host Eutintinnus pectinis 1
Author(s) -
COATS D. WAYNE
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1988.tb04159.x
Subject(s) - biology , sporogenesis , spore , host (biology) , parasite hosting , dinoflagellate , population , ciliate , infestation , microspore , zoology , botany , ecology , pollen , stamen , demography , sociology , world wide web , computer science
The parasitic dinoflagellate Duboscquella cachoni n. sp. is described from infestations of the tintinnine ciliate Eutintinnus pectinis collected from the Chesapeake Bay, a major North American estuary located on the east coast of the United States. Examination of parasite life history, morphology, and developmental processes reveals that D. cachoni differs from other members of the genus by the structure of the trophont, the pattern of sporogenesis, and spore morphology. Sporogenesis results in the production of either biflagellated macrospores, microspores with a single flagellum, or a cyst‐like stage. The number of spores formed per infestation and their survival outside the host vary with spore type. Infested ciliates are apparently unable to reproduce, and infestations are always fatal to E. pectinis . Aspects of parasite biology and observations of a natural host‐parasite assemblage suggest that D. cachoni may have a significant impact on its host's population dynamics.