Morphology, Molecular Genetics and Potential Importance for Mucilage Events of the New Coccolithophorid Ochrosphaera neapolitana in the Sea of Marmara
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, vol.11, no.3, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- 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.