Biology:Fragilariopsis kerguelensis

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Short description: Species of single-celled organism

Fragilariopsis kerguelensis
Nitzschia-kerguelensis hg.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Stramenopiles
Phylum: Gyrista
Subphylum: Ochrophytina
Class: Bacillariophyceae
Order: Bacillariales
Family: Bacillariaceae
Genus: Fragilariopsis
Species:
F. kerguelensis
Binomial name
Fragilariopsis kerguelensis
(O'Meara) Hustedt
Synonyms
  • Terebraria kerguelensis
  • Fragilaria antarctica
  • Fragilaria kerguelensis
  • Fragilariopsis antarctica
  • Nitzschia kerguelensis
  • Terebraria kerguelensis
  • Trachysphenia australis var. kerguelensis

Fragilariopsis kerguelensis,[1] is a pennate diatom native to the Southern Ocean. It has been characterized as "the most abundant diatom in the Antarctic Seas".[2]

Description

Fragilariopsis kerguelensis is a unicellular, phototrophic, microalga with a range in size of 10 - 80 μm.[3] It is encased in a heavily silicified cell wall, called the frustule, and is identified by its unique theca, raphe and striations, which distinguish it from other diatoms.[4] They are native to pelagic environments of the Southern Ocean within a temperature range of -1° to 18° C.[5] F. kerguelensis is known to form community chains that consist of 20-100 cells and can be up to 300 μm long.[6]

Use as a paleoceanographic proxy

Fragilariopsis kerguelensis is well preserved in the fossil record and commonly referenced as a paleoceanographic or paleoclimatic proxy. F. kerguelensis comprises the largest deposit of biogenic silica in the world (~75%) despite only accounting for 20% of global production.[5][7] It is an open water species and is found in its highest abundance between the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the Subtropical Front.[8] This, along with its tendency to increase valve size near polar fronts, makes F. kerguelensis an ideal indicator of paleoclimate polar front or low-carbon, high-silica exporting regimes.[9][10] Modern assemblages with F. kerguelensis can be used to calculate past sea surface temperature through the use of transfer functions.[5]

References

  1. O'Meara, E (1877). "the diatomaceous gatherings made at Kerguelen's Land". Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany (15): 55–59. 
  2. Hart, T.J (1942). "Phytoplankton periodicity in Antarctic surface waters". Discovery Rep. 
  3. Smetacek, V (1999). "Diatoms and the ocean carbon cycle". Protist 150 (1): 25–32. doi:10.1016/s1434-4610(99)70006-4. PMID 10724516. 
  4. "Fragilariopsis kerguelensis (O'Meara) Hustedt, 1952". World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=341555. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Zielinski, U; Gersonde, R (1997). "Diatom distribution in Southern Ocean surface sediments (Atlantic sector): Implications for paleoenvironmental reconstructions". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 129 (3–4): 213–250. doi:10.1016/s0031-0182(96)00130-7. Bibcode1997PPP...129..213Z. 
  6. Smetacek, V; Assmy, P; Henjes, J (2004). "The role of grazing in structuring Southern Ocean pelagic ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles". Antarctic Science 16 (4): 541–558. doi:10.1017/s0954102004002317. Bibcode2004AntSc..16..541S. 
  7. Verity, P.G; Smetacek, V (1996). "Organism life cycles, predation, and the structure of marine pelagic ecosystems". Marine Ecology Progress Series 130 (1): 231–250. doi:10.3354/meps130277. Bibcode1996MEPS..130..277V. 
  8. Crosta, X; Romero, O; Armand, L.K; Pichon, J.J (2005). "The biogeography of major diatom taxa in Southern Ocean sediments: 2. Open ocean related species". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 223 (1): 6–92. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2005.03.028. Bibcode2005PPP...223...66C. 
  9. Cortese, G; Gersonde, R (2007). "Morphometric variability in the diatom Fragilariopsis kerguelensis: Implications for Southern Ocean paleoceanography". Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 257 (3–4): 526–544. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2007.03.021. Bibcode2007E&PSL.257..526C. https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/15761/1/Cor2006c.pdf. 
  10. "Profile: Fragilariopsis kerguelensis - Biota - Confluence". Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre. http://www.soki.aq/x/coZw. 

Wikidata ☰ Q22284994 entry