Parvilucifera rostrata sp. nov. (Perkinsozoa), a Novel Parasitoid that Infects Planktonic Dinoflagellates

Ecological impacts of parasitic chytrids, syndiniales and perkinsids on populations of marine photosynthetic dinoflagellates

“…Interestingly, P. rostrata, P. sinerae, and P. infectans failed to infect Prorocentrum species in cultures (Lepelletier et al 2014b;Garc es et al 2013a,b). This specificity is somewhat restricted by locality.…”

“…The presence of multiple types of parasite in the same environment is common, and presents an interesting question of competition among parasites. How two species exploiting similar ecological resources can coexist is not fully understood, and may Ecological impacts of parasitic chytrids, syndiniales and perkinsids represent further unexplored diversity in the methods parasites utilise to survive their environment (Lepelletier et al 2014b). …”

“…However, pellicle cysts did not have long term resistance to parasite infection, since they rapidly disappear 5e7 d after infections . Additionally, other zoosporic parasitoids such as D. arenysensis, seem to develop well on their host cysts (Lepelletier et al 2014b). This host strategy may eventually change in favour of the parasites.…”

Diversity and Phylogeny of Marine Parasitic Dinoflagellates

“…In addition to the type species, three more species have been described in the genus Parvilucifera to date, i.e., P. prorocentri (Leander and Hoppenrath 2008 ) (Fig. 16.2a ), P. sinerae (Figueroa et al 2008 ) and P. rostrata (Lepelletier et al 2014 ). The host of P. prorocentri is so far restricted to the benthic dinofl agellate Prorocentrum fukuyoi , but P. sinerae was found to infect toxic planktonic dinofl agellates, such as Alexandrium spp., Karenia brevis and Gymnodinium catenatum.…”

“…P. rostrata is also known to parasitize toxic dinofl agellates (e.g., Alexandrium spp.) and non-toxic dinofl agellates (e.g., Heterocapsa triquetra and Kryptoperidinium foliaceum ) (Lepelletier et al 2014 ). Because these host dinofl agellates listed above are known as HAB species, Parvilucifera spp.…”