Highlights of Recent Collections of Marine Algae from the Sultanate
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ABSTRACTS 1 1 2 PALATABILITY AND CHEMICAL DEFENSES DINOFLAGELLATE GENOMICS: RESULTS OF MACROALGAE IN THE ANTARCTIC FROM AN EST APPROACH PENINSULA Bachvaroff, T. R.1,∗, Herman, E. M.2 & Amsler, C. D.1,∗, Amsler, M. O.1, McClintock, J. B.1, Delwiche, C. F.1 Iken, K. B.1, Hubbard, J. M.1 & Baker, W. J.2 1Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of 1Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; 2Soybean Genomic Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-1170; 2Department Improvement Laboratory, USDA/ARS, Beltsville, MD of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 20705, USA 33620, USA Dinoflagellates are enigmatic protists with odd nu- We examined palatability of 37 species of nonen- clear features, interesting plastid gene arrangements crusting macroalgae from the Antarctic Peninsula. and a proclivity for endosymbiotic relationships. Rel- This represents approximately 30% of the entire atively little molecular work has been done on di- antarctic macroalgal flora and 75% of the 49 noflagellates, and only a handful of genes have been nonencrusting species we collected. Organic extracts characterized in these organisms. We have begun an from most species were also prepared and mixed Expressed Sequenced Tag (EST) project with the aim into artificial foods. We examined palatability using of collecting plastid targeted but nuclear encoded feeding bioassays with three common, macroalga- genes from peridinin-containing dinoflagellates. This consuming animals (an omnivorous antarctic rock- provides an opportunity to understand the integra- fish, Notothenia coriiceps; an omnivorous sea star, tion of endosymbiont genes into the host cell. Our se- Odontaster validus; and a herbivorous amphipod, Gon- quencing effort has produced about 1000 unique ESTs dogenia antarctica). Thallus pieces from 23 of 34 from a Gonyaulax polyedra cDNA library obtained from macroalgal species tested with the fish (68%) were David Morse. Of the 1535 total ESTs (72%, >400 bp), rejected. Of the 23 species rejected as thallus, or- 466 sequences were identifiable by BLAST with a bit ganic extracts of 16 were bioassayed using the fish score above 50. The most abundant transcript is the with 9 (56%) unpalatable. Thallus pieces from 21 of peridinin–chlorophyll-binding protein, which consti- 36 macroalgal species tested with the sea star (58%) tuted 3% of the clones. More recently, we began se- were rejected. Of the 21 species rejected as thal- quencing from an Amphidinium carterae cDNA library lus, organic extracts of 20 were bioassayed using the made in our laboratory. This provides insight into ex- sea stars and 14 (70%) were unpalatable. Overall, pression patterns and is a resource for other workers 28 of the 37 species assayed as thallus (76%) were in the field. Several clearly identifiable plastid genes rejected by either or both the fish and sea stars. have been found and preliminary analysis confirms The amphipod assay was not suitable for use with the chromophyte, and therefore, tertiary origin of the thallus but was utilized with organic extracts of 23 peridinin plastid. macroalgal species that were rejected as thallus by either or both the fish and sea stars. Of these, 14 (61%) of the species’ extracts were rejected by 3 the amphipods. Unpalatability was highest among ALGAL STIMULATION OF THE BERKELEY PIT the brown algae examined with only an ephemeral, LAKE SYSTEM ectocarpoid species not rejected as thallus out of Bartkowiak, B. & Mitman, G. G.∗ 10 species tested. Of the remaining nine brown Montana Tech University of Montana, 1300 West Park algal species, six of seven tested were also un- Street, Butte, MT 59701, USA palatable as extracts, including all the ecologi- cally dominant, perennial species in the area. We This study was conducted to evaluate four species conclude that unpalatability to herbivores is com- of algae (Chromulina freiburgensis Dofl., Chlorella ellip- mon in antarctic macroalgae and that chemical soidea Gerneck, C. vulgaris Beijerinck, and Chlamy- defenses may play an important role in the un- domonas acidophila Negoro) isolated from an acid pit palatability of many algal species (NSF OPP9814538, lake for their bioremediative potential. The Berkeley OPP9901076). Pit Lake system, located in Butte, MT, USA is an aban- 2 ABSTRACTS doned open-pit mine. As a result of acid rock drainage tinued agricultural and residential inputs of fertilizers the water in this pit is very acidic and contains high and pesticides will likely exacerbate the cyanobacterial concentrations of dissolved metals. First, optimal nu- dominance leading to further reductions in aquatic trient levels for each species of algae were determined. health and aesthetic values. Previous chemical treat- Levels of nutrients tested include: 5, 10, 15 mg N/L, ment and macrophyte removal have achieved limited and 0, 3, 6 mg P/L. The experiment was conducted success, and might have altered algal community dy- with sterile filtered Berkeley Pit water. Next, each namics. Remediation approaches that might improve species of algae were grown under optimal nutrient water quality include: reducing upstream inputs via levels and dissolved metal removal potentials were sediment traps or lagoons; reducing in-lake nutri- examined, using Inductively-Coupled Plasma–Atomic ents via sediment removal; reducing residential inputs Emission Spectrometry (ICP–AES). In addition, field via improved septic/sanitation systems; and shoreline sampling was preformed to gain a better understand- vegetation filter strips. ing of the microbial community within the pit. Finally, field parameters including, light, temperature, dis- solved oxygen, specific conductivity, redox potential, 5 and turbidity were examined to determine the actual conditions for microbial growth within the Berkeley DESMIDS AND DINOFLAGELLATES OF pit. ECUADOR Carty, S.∗ & Hall II J. D. Department of Biology, Heidelberg College, Tiffin, OH 4 44883, USA PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITY The freshwater flora of Ecuador is poorly known. COMPOSITION IN THE TRI-LAKES AREA OF This report provides preliminary information about CENTRAL WISCONSIN, USA the freshwater Pyrrhophyta and two families in the Bell, R. A. Chlorophyta. There has been some work on diatoms Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin – Stevens but other groups remain unstudied. In June 2001, Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA samples were collected as whole water or by using a 10-mm plankton net from 52 locations in the inte- Tri-Lakes (Upper and Lower Camelot, Sherwood, Ar- rior (Amazonian) and Andean regions and examined rowhead) in Adams County, WI, USA are man-made within hours using a Swift field microscope. Nine ad- impoundments draining substantial agricultural lands ditional samples from Ecuador have been provided and surrounded by considerable shoreline residen- by Dr Miriam Kannan. Amazonian sites consisted of tial development. The planktonic algal community, as oxbow lakes along the Rio Shiripuno, and small ponds sampled from June to November 2000, was sparse-to- and lakes along the road from the river to Coca. An- moderately dense, fairly diverse (69 genera from six dean sites were principally in the Cajas National Park divisions basin-wide), and unremarkable in taxonomic near Cuenca. Genera in the Closteriaceae include composition. All sites sampled displayed the general Closterium, Gonatozygon, Spinoclosterium, and Penium. algal successional trends expected from northern- Desmidiaceae include Arthrodesmus, Bambusina, Cos- temperate, mildly eutrophic waters. These included marium, Desmidium, Euastrum, Hyalotheca, Micrasterias, sparse but taxonomically diverse communities in the Pleurotaenium, Spondylosum, Staurastrum, Staurodesmus, spring; a late spring pulse of diatoms; a late summer Triploceras, and Xanthidium. Pyrrhophyta include Cer- pulse of green algae; and a steadily increasing com- atium, Gymnodinium, Peridinium, Sphaerodinium, and ponent of Cyanobacteria leading to their community Woloszynskia. dominance by the end of the growing season. Upper Lake Camelot (55 genera) best represented this pat- tern. Lower Lake Camelot (53 genera) had a large green algal pulse but only a small diatom pulse. Lake 6 Sherwood was the most taxonomically diverse body PHORMIDIUM RETZII (OSCILLATORIALES): (63 genera) and had the most extreme pulses of di- GENOTYPIC VARIATION AND PHENOTYPIC atoms and greens. Lake Arrowhead had the lowest PLASTICITY taxonomic diversity (39 genera), was the most domi- Casamatta, D. A.1,∗, Vis, M. L.1 & Sheath, R. G.2 nated by Cyanobacteria, and had only minor pulses of 1Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio diatoms and greens. The algal communities indicate University, Athens, OH 45701; 2Provost Office, California a mesotrophic to slightly eutrophic lake status. Con- State University, San Marcos, CA 92096, USA ABSTRACTS 3 Phormidium retzii is one of the most commonly en- Life on earth originated in a wet world and remained countered lotic taxa in North America and has been there for millions of years until the first terrestrial in- recorded from a wide range of habitats worldwide. vaders made their initial forays into a new and un- The genetic variability of this cosmopolitan, fresh- exploited terrestrial habitat. Although cyanobacteria, water cyanobacterium was assessed using gene se- and perhaps fungi as well, were important participants quences and random amplified polymorphic DNA in the conquest of the land, it was the evolution green (RAPD) markers. Strains consistent with the mor- algae into the initial land plants