|
|
Frankovich, Thomas A.; Sullivan, Michael J.; Stacy, Nicole I.
(detail)
|
|
|
2015 |
Three new species of Tursiocola (Bacillariophyta) from the skin of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus).
Phytotaxa 204(1): 33-48. 2 tabs. 71 figs. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.204.1.3. Mar. 27, 2015.
–ABSTRACT: Three new species of Tursiocola are described from the skin of the West Indian manatee bringing the total number of known species in the genus to seven. The range of morphological diversity within the genus is greatly expanded. The number of poroid rows on the copulae is no longer a valid characteristic for the separation of Tursiocola from the ceticolous genus Epiphalaina. The presence of a butterfly-like structure in the central area of the former is at present the best criterion for separating the 2 genera. The 3 new Tursiocola species accounted for nearly 90% of all diatom valves on the manatee skin. No other diatom taxa previously described as new from the skin of cetaceans were present on the manatee.
|
|
|
Frankovich, Thomas A.; Ashworth, Matt P.; Sullivan, Michael J.; Theriot, Edward C.; Stacy, Nicole I.
(detail)
|
|
|
2018 |
Epizoic and apochlorotic Tursiocola species (Bacillariophyta) from the Skin of Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris).
Protist 169(4): 539-568. doi: 10.1016/j.protis.2018.04.002. Publ. online Apr. 16, 2018.
–ABSTRACT: Until now only one group of diatoms, the Bacillariaceae, was known to contain heterotrophic representatives. We show that a second group, represented by species in the genus Tursiocola, has undergone evolutionary loss of photosynthesis within the Bacillariophyta. Heterotrophy was evidenced by the presence of only apochlorotic cells in live and motile specimens. Three species of Tursiocola (T. bondei sp. nov., T. alata sp. nov., and T. gracilis sp. nov.), of which at least two are apochlorotic, are described as new to science from the skin of Florida manatees. T. ziemanii and T. varicopulifera were also observed to be apochlorotic. A new morphological feature termed a "fastigium" was observed on some Tursiocola spp. and is described as an extension of the mantle margin at the valve apex that overhangs the apex and extends towards the valve face. The presence of greatly elevated marginal ridges on the valve face of T. alata sp. nov. is a newly observed morphological character within the genus. Phylogenetic analyses using ribosomal RNA sequences indicate that Tursiocola is monophyletic, though morphological character analysis suggests paraphyly as species of the closely related Epiphalaina genus are embedded within a larger Tursiocola clade.
|
|