Pelagococcus R.E.Norris, 1977

Holotype species: Pelagococcus subviridis R.E.Norris

Original publication and holotype designation: Lewin, J., Norris, R.E., Jeffrey, S.W. & Pearson, B.E. (1977). An aberrant chrysophycean alga Pelagococcus subviridis gen. nov. et sp. nov. from the North Pacific Ocean. Journal of Phycology 13: 259-266.

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Description: Very small (< 2 &m) spherical cells, joined in irregular colonies. Cell has a distinct, 3-layered wall and internally a single chloroplast, one to several mitochondria and one dictyosome. Reproduction by division, presumably also by budding. No flagellate stages. Quite common in oceanic picoplankton of the Pacific. This organism displays an unusual combination of features. The pigment composition (2 fucoxanthin derivatives, chlorophyll c₃ and diadinoxanthin) suggests affinity with some prymnesiophytes, whereas organelle ultrastructure (structure of the dictyosome, presence of a girdle lamella in the chloroplast) is typical of chrysophytes. Mitosis presents unusual features not found in any other algal class (discussed in detail by Vesk and Jeffrey, 1987).

Information contributed by: J. Kristiansen. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2014-09-19 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Kristiansen, J. & Preisig, H.R. (2001). Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Comments: Throndsen (1997: 620) includes this genus in the Order Chrysosphaerales, Family Chrysosphaeraceae.

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=44790

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 19 September 2014. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 04 May 2024