Morphology, Molecular Genetics and Potential Importance for Mucilage Events of the New Coccolithophorid Ochrosphaera neapolitana in the Sea of Marmara

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Eker-Develi E., Tekdal D., Demet A. E., Yıldız H. B., KIDEYŞ A. E.

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, vol.11, no.3, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 11 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/jmse11030468
  • Journal Name: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, INSPEC, Metadex, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: coccolithophorid, haptophyte, Marmara, mucilage event, Ochrosphaera, NORTHERN ADRIATIC SEA, GONYAULAX-FRAGILIS, PHYTOPLANKTON COMPOSITION, APPEARANCE, DIATOM, AREA
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The coccolithophorid Ochrosphaera neapolitana was reported for the first time from samples obtained during a large-scale mucilage event in the Sea of Marmara in May 2022 in a previous study. We also found this species in our samples obtained about a year ago (i.e., in June 2021). In our study, O. neapolitana was further isolated and produced in the laboratory as a monoculture for further investigations using electron microscopy and molecular methods. Ochrosphaera neapolitana was identified using a small sub-unit (SSU) rRNA sequence and subsequent phylogenetic analysis. During the laboratory experiments, O. neapolitana was surprisingly observed to produce conspicuous levels of mucilage as a skim layer in mono- or multi-species cultures, mainly comprising other diatom species. This observation could be a significant milestone in understanding the reasons and mechanisms of mucilage events that occur in the Sea of Marmara.