Prasinophyceae

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Prasinophyceae

Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Chlorophyta
Class:	Prasinophyceae

Orders^[1]

In taxonomy, Prasinophytes are a class of primitive eukaryotic, marine green algae.^[2] Its best known genus is Ostreococcus, which is considered to be the smallest (ca. 0.95 μm) free-living eukaryote^[3] and which has been detected in marine samples around the world. Prasinophytes are thought to have low cellular complexity i.e. they are naked cells that possess single, multiple or no flagellae and contain only a single chloroplast and a single mitochondrium. They also have very small genomes for a eukaryote (about 12Mbp).

1 Ecology
2 References
3 External links
- 3.1 Links to scientific references
- 3.2 Links to scientific databases

[edit] Ecology

A study of photosynthetic gene-sequence diversity (rbcL) in the Gulf of Mexico indicated that Prasinophytes are particularly prevalent at the Subsurface Chlorophyll Maximum (SCM)^[4] and several different ecotypes of Ostreococcus have been detected in the environment. ^[5] These ecotypes are distinguished by their adaptation to light intensities. O. lucimarinus is found in high-light environments and represents surface-isolated strains. RCC141 is considered low-light, because these strains were isolated from the lower euphotic zone. O. tauri was isolated from a coastal lagoon and is considered light-polyvalent. Genetic data indicates that distinct molecular differences exist between the different ecotypes that have been detected.^[6]

[edit] References

^ Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2007). Class: Prasinophyceae taxonomy browser. AlgaeBase version 4.2 World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
^ Sym SD, Pienaar RN (1993). "The class Prasinophyceae". Prog Phycol Res 9: 281–376.
^ Courties C, Vaquer A, Troussellier M, Lautier J, Chrétiennot-Dinet MJ, Neveux J, Machado C, Claustre H (1994). "Smallest eukaryotic organism". Nature 370: 255. doi:10.1038/370255a0.
^ Wawrik B, Paul JH, Campbell L, Griffin D, Houchin L, Fuentes-Ortega A, Müller-Karger F (2003). "Vertical Structure of the Phytoplankton Community Associated with a Coastal Plume in the Gulf of Mexico". Marine Ecology Progress Series 251: 87–101. doi:10.3354/meps251087.
^ Guillou L, Eikrem W, Chrétiennot-Dinnet MJ, Le Gall F, Massana R, Romari K, Pedros-Alio C, Vaulot D (2004). "Diversity of picoplanktonic Prasinophyceae assessed by direct SSU rDNA sequencing of environmental samples and novel isolates retrieved from oceanic and coastal marine ecosystems". Protist 155: 193–214. doi:10.1078/143446104774199592.
^ Rodríguez F, Derelle E, Guillou L, Le Gall F, Vaulot D, Moreau H (2005). "Ecotype diversity in the marine picoeukaryote Ostreococcus (Chlorophyta, Prasinophyceae)". Environmental Microbiology 7: 853–859. doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2005.00758.x.