Novel heterococcolithophores, holococcolithophores and life cycle combinations from the families Syracosphaeraceae and Papposphaeraceae and the genus Florisphaera
2021
Abstract. Coccolithophores are a diverse group of calcifying phytoplankton,
which are responsible for a large part of the modern oceanic carbonate
production. Here, we describe novel or poorly known coccolithophores and novel life cycle combination coccospheres detected in samples
collected either in the Gulf of Aqaba in the northern Red Sea or in the Gulf
of Naples in the western Mediterranean. These include Syracosphaera winteri, for which detached
coccoliths have previously been recorded but both a formal description and
taxonomic affiliation were lacking, and five undescribed sets of
combination cells linking HET and HOL forms for S. pulchra, S. mediterranea, S. azureaplaneta, S. lamina and S. orbicula. We also propose
the replacement name S. kareniae for the fossil species Deutschlandia gaarderae. We describe a new species of
the genus Ophiaster, O. macrospinus, displaying a unique morphological and ecological distribution as well as
putative combination cells of two variants of the deep-dwelling
Florisphaera profunda, which provide new insights on the affiliation of this genus within the
Calcihaptophycideae. Additionally, in the family Papposphaeraceae we
detected a new species, Pappomonas vexillata, and combination cells of Picarola margalefi and of a species
resembling Papposphaera arctica. Finally, we detected three novel, unpaired holococcolithophore
forms (Calyptrosphaera lluisae, Calicasphaera bipora and one form designated as Holococcolithophore A). Overall, this set of novel observations and ensuing discussions
provide further insights into the diversity, evolution and life cycle
complexity of coccolithophores in the oceans.
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