DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS OF PFIESTERIA‐LIKE DINOFLAGELLATE, LUCIELLA GEN. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE), INCLUDING TWO NEW SPECIES: LUCIELLA MASANENSIS SP. NOV. AND LUCIELLA ATLANTIS SP. NOV.¹

Abstract

A new genus of Pfiesteria-like heterotrophic dinoflagellate, Luciella gen. nov., and two new species, Luciella masanensis sp. nov. and Luciella atlantis sp. nov., are described. These species commonly occur with other small (<20 lm) heterotrophic and mixotrophic dinoflagellates in estuaries from Florida to Maryland and the southern coast of Korea, suggesting a possible global distribution. An SEM analysis indicates that members of the genus Luciella have the enhanced Kofoidian plate formula of Po, cp, X, 4¢, 2a, 6¢¢, 6c, PC, 5+s, 5¢¢¢, 0p, and 2¢¢¢¢. The two four-sided anterior intercalary plates are diamond shaped. The genus Luciella differs from the other genera in the Pfiesteriaceae by a least one plate in the plate tabulation and in the configuration of the two anterior intercalary plates. An SSU rDNA phylogenetic analysis confirmed the genus as monophyletic and distinct from the other genera in the Pfiesteriaceae. The morphology of Luciella masanensis closely resembles Pfiesteria piscicida Steid. et J. M. Burkh. and other Pfiesteria-like dinoflagellates in size and shape, making it easily misidentified using LM. Luciella atlantis, in contrast, has a more distinctive morphology. It can be distinguished from L. masanensis and other Pfiesteria-like organisms by a larger cell size, a more conical-shaped epitheca and hypotheca, larger rhombic-shaped intercalary plates, and an asymmetrical hypotheca. The genus Luciella is assigned to the order Peridiniales and the family Pfiesteriaceae based on plate tabulation, plate pattern, general morphology, and phylogenetic analysis.

Species-specific differences in long-chain n-3 essential fatty acid, sterol, and steroidal ketone production in six heterotrophic protist species

“…The thecate heterotrophic dinoflagellate Luciella masanensis (NC Lucy, P27; Mason et al 2007), an isolate from the New River Estuary, North Carolina, USA, was obtained from Dr. Patricia Tester at the NOAA Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina. Both P. piscicida and L. masanensis were re-isolated at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), and the re-isolated heterotrophic protists were used for our study.…”

“…In this context, we experimentally investigated the capability and species-specific differences in long-chain n-3 essential fatty acid (LCn-3EFA), sterol, and steroidal ketone production, as well as the bioconversion of dietary sterols for 6 different heterotrophic protists, which included 3 thecate heterotrophic dinoflagellates (Cryptoperidiniopsis brodyi, Pfiesteria piscicida, and Luciella masanensis) isolated in the early and mid-1990s from estuaries on the mid-Atlantic coast of the USA (Steidinger et al 1996, Mason et al 2007), 1 athecate heterotrophic dinoflagellate (Amphidinium longum), 1 herbivorous ciliate (Strombidinopsis sp. ), and 1 bacterivorous ciliate (Uronema sp.…”

Feeding by protists and copepods on the heterotrophic dinoflagellates Pfiesteria piscicida, Stoeckeria algicida, and Luciella masanensis

“…However, recently, several new species in this family have been discovered (Jeong et al 2005b, Litaker et al 2005, Mason et al 2007). The present study suggests that species in this family may have a distinct ecological niches and may be differentiated from each other based on their prey species, differential growth and ingestion rates (Lin et al 2004, Jeong et al 2005a, 2007a as well as the differential mortality rate due to predation as shown in the present study.…”

“…Since the small heterotrophic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida (order Peridiniales and family Pfiesteriaceae) was first discovered in the early 1990s (Steidinger et al 1996), several more dinoflagellate species in the family Pfiesteriaceae, such as Cryptoperidiniopsis brodyi, Luciella atlantis, L. masanensis, Pseudopfiesteria shumwayae, and Stoeckeria algicida, have been discovered (Jeong et al 2005b, Litaker et al 2005, Steidinger et al 2006, Mason et al 2007). Both scientists and the public have paid attention to these dinoflagellates because some of the species are harmful to fish , Glasgow et al 2001, shellfish (Springer et al 2002, Shumway et al 2006, and humans (Schmechel & Koltai 2001).…”

Feeding by heterotrophic dinoflagellates on the common marine heterotrophic nanoflagellate Cafeteria sp.

“…They have also been found to participate in reciprocal predator-prey interactions with mixotrophic dinoflagellates (Jeong et al 1997). Recently several HTD species such as Pfiesteria piscicida, Pseudopfiesteria shumwayae, Stoeckeria algicida, and Luciella masanensis (previously Lucy) have been newly discovered (Steidinger et al 1996, Litaker et al 2005, Jeong et al 2005b, Mason et al 2007). These heterotrophic dinoflagellates are harmful to finfish and shellfish due to their feeding on the blood cells and flesh of fish.…”