Chattonella
| Chatonella | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | |
| (unranked): | |
| Superphylum: | Heterokonta |
| Phylum: | Ochrophyta |
| Class: | Raphidophyceae |
| Order: | Chattonellales |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Chatonella Biecheler 1936
|
| Type species | |
| Chatonella subsalsa Biecheler 1936
| |
| Species | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
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Chattonella is a genus of the marine class raphidophytes associated with red tides and can be found in the phylum Heterokontophyta in stramenopiles.[1] These unicellular flagellates are found in brackish ecosystems. The genus Chattonella is composed of five species: C. subsalsa, C. antiqua, C. marina, C. minima, and C. ovata.[2]
Structure and synthesis
The Chattonella species contain an ectoplasm with vacuoles, chloroplasts, and mucocysts and an endoplasm with a nucleus and other organelles.[2] Due to their lack of cell wall, these species have the ability to change size and shape. Therefore, fish populations cannot recognize the toxins and cannot defend themselves. Each species of the Chattonella genus is very similar or identical in DNA sequencing.[3] C. minima has an identical morphological structure to C. antiqua, so researchers are developing ways to search for the gene responsible for differentiating between the different Chattonella strains.[4] The only currently known difference between the two strains is the number of chromosomes; C. minima contains 90-110 chromosomes while C. marina contains 29 chromosomes.[1]
Chattonella algal blooms synthesis is compared to "diatom resting hypothesis" with the only major difference being that Chattonella cysts can germinate in the dark as opposed to diatoms which can germinate only in sunlight.[1] Factors such as water temperature, salinity, irradiance, and nutrients each contribute to the growth of Chattonella.[1]
Environmental impact
Algal species can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful to environmental ecosystems. Three of these species, C. antiqua, C. marina, and C. ovata, contribute the growing problem of harmful algal blooms (HAB).[4] Chattonella outbreaks are known to be enhanced by eutrophication[1]. C. verruculosa was originally categorized with these toxic species, but further phylogenetic analysis showed it actually belonged to class Dictyochophyceae, not Raphidophyceae.[3] These harmful algal species trigger the necrosis of gill cells in fish.[4] More specifically, the toxins produce reactive oxygen species that disrupt oxygen transport and ultimately lead to suffocation.[1] Fish species such as Thunnus maccoyii, Seriola quinqueradiata, and others are declining rapidly in Australia, Japan, India, China, Brazil, Mexico, and USA, greatly affecting fishing industries.[3] As HABs become more common, more research is dedicated to preventing these outbreaks.
Analysis methods
To prevent Chattonella HABs, the individual species must first be studied. A technique using