Bibliographic Detail
Bollmann, J., Cortes, M.Y., Kleijne, A., Ostergaard, J.B. & Young, J.R., 2006
Reference:
Bollmann, J., Cortes, M.Y., Kleijne, A., Ostergaard, J.B. & Young, J.R. (2006). Solisphaera gen. nov. (Prymnesiophyceae), a new coccolithophore genus from the lower photic zone. Phycologia 45: 465-477.
Abstract:
Solisphaera gen. nov. (Prymnesiophyceae) is described from the lower photic zone of the Pacific Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Differences in coccolith morphology between Solisphaera and members of Rhabdosphaer-aceae are certainly substantial enough to warrant the erection of a separate genus that should probably be categorised as incertae sedis aff. Rhabdosphaeraceae. The new genus accommodates three new species, S. emidasia sp. nov., S. blagnacensis sp. nov. and S. helianthiformis sp. nov. and the presence of a corona of process-bearing coccoliths around the cell is a key feature that unites the three species in the new genus Solisphaera, while the shape of these coronal coccoliths provides the main character for separating them at species level. A remarkable feature of this genus is the tight interlocking of the coronal coccoliths, in almost all collapsed coccospheres the circle of coronal coccoliths remains intact. This is evidently due to the presence of notches at the base of the process into which the rims of adjacent coccoliths lock. All three species are restricted to the lower photic zone in the areas studied and apparent preferences for different depth levels of S. emidasia and S. blagnacensis, as well as their nutrient and light requirements, have to be confirmed by further analysis.
