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Isolation and characterization of the “zooxanthellae” from soritid foraminifera and the giant clam Tridacna maxima
Author(s) -
LEE JOHN J.,
CEVASCO MEGAN,
MÉDOR GÉRALDO
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of eukaryotic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 1066-5234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2005.05202003_1_46.x
Subject(s) - biology , zooxanthellae , botany , symbiodinium , gymnodinium , dinoflagellate , symbiosis , ecology , bacteria , phytoplankton , nutrient , genetics
Various methodological approaches are being used to characterize Symbiodinium spp isolated from Marginopora vertebralis and Amphisorus hemprichii and Amphisorus sp. from the Indo‐pacific. While most of the cells in culture are non‐motile vegetative cells, dinospores occur in batch cultures. We find consistant variance among the isolates in the duration and time of appearance of motile forms. Nitrate (0.146 mM) supports higher populations of the isolates than NH 4 (0.146 mM). Higher concentrations of NH 4 inhibit growth. Although Fensome et al. (1993) characterized the Order Suessiales (and Family Symbiodiniaceae) as gymnnodiniphycideans in which the amphiesmal vesicals are arranged in 7–10 longitudinal series we were unable to detect any plates on the surfaces of our isolates in the SEM. We were unsuccessful in revealing plates on non‐motile forms by freeze fracture but they were present after treatment with various chemical agents (e.g. H 2 O 2 , HOCl − ) and enzymes (cellulase, chitinase). They are not polygonal or arranged in the patterns anticipated for the Symbiodiniaceae. Polyclonal antibody studies of the Symbiodinium ‐like isolates are in agreement with molecular systematic studies in the sense that there is a common relation. The foram endosymbiotic dinoflagellates share some common surface antigens with each other and with the few invertebrate isolates we have tested. Studies of the foraminiferal symbionts' plastids revealed considerable morphological diversity. We isolated a diversity of endosymbionts from the mantle of Tridacna maxima from the Red Sea and the Marshall Islands. These included Symbiodinium , Amphidinium , Tetraselmis , and an unidentified chlorophyte.