Alexandrium monilatum
Alexandrium monilatum | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
Clade: | SAR |
Clade: | Alveolata |
Phylum: | Myzozoa |
Superclass: | Dinoflagellata |
Class: | Dinophyceae |
Order: | Gonyaulacales |
Family: | Ostreopsidaceae |
Genus: | Alexandrium |
Species: | A. monilatum
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Binomial name | |
Alexandrium monilatum | |
Synonyms | |
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Alexandrium monilatum is a species of armored,
Distribution and habitat
Alexandrium monilatum is a planktonic species found in tropical to warm temperate coastal seas and estuaries of the Americas. The species description is based on material from the Indian River Lagoon on the Atlantic Coast of Florida.[1]
Description
Alexandrium monilatum are armored or thecate dinoflagellates with an outer cell wall covered with cellulose plates. A. monilatum is wider at the cingulum or equatorial girdle than it is tall, and it commonly joins into chains of from two to sixteen individuals, with chains as long as 32 cells in calm seas. The cingulum or groove halfway between the top and bottom of the organism's single cell is where the pair of flagella are situated. To form chains, A. monilatum cells exude a glue from the apical or top attachment pore of one individual to make it adhere to the antapical or bottom attachment pore of the next individual in the chain. Organisms produced in laboratory cultures do not usually form chains. The nucleus is located in the center of the cell, and A. minilatum's many chloroplasts radiate outward from the nucleus.[1][2] A bioluminescent strain of A. monilatum has been identified from Mississippi Sound in the Gulf of Mexico.[3]
Life cycle
Alexandrium monilatum reproduces both asexually and sexually. Asexual reproduction is by
Toxicity
Like other dinoflagellates, Alexandrium monilatum has wide swings in population size.
References
- ^ a b c Hargraves, P. E. (2011). "Alexandrium monilatum". Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
- ^ a b c d "Alexandrium monilatum". Harmful Marine Dinoflagellates. Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
- PMID 18723546.
- ^ .
Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Alexandrium monilatum". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway.