Cryptic diversity within the Gonyaulax spinifera species complex, its relation to the cyst‐defined species Spiniferites bentorii, S. mirabilis and S. membranaceus, with the description of Gonyaulax carbonell‐mooreae sp. nov. (Gonyaulacales, Dinophyceae)


Contact
bernd.krock [ at ] awi.de

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The fossil dinoflagellates <jats:italic>Spiniferites bentorii</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>S. mirabilis</jats:italic>, and <jats:italic>S. membranaceus</jats:italic> are known to inhabit recent sediments and are often used to reconstruct past sea‐surface conditions. However, information on their corresponding motile cells has been rare. We isolated single cysts resembling these fossil species from China and France to yield <jats:italic>Gonyaulax spinifera</jats:italic>‐like cells. <jats:italic>Gonyaulax</jats:italic> strains were also established from Viet Nam and South Korea by isolating single cells. Both cysts and cells were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy, and their LSU rRNA genes were sequenced. A new <jats:italic>Gonyaulax</jats:italic> species, <jats:italic>G. carbonell‐mooreae</jats:italic>, was obtained from <jats:italic>S. bentorii</jats:italic>‐like cysts and considered the equivalent of <jats:italic>Spiniferites bullatus</jats:italic>, dating back to the Campanian. <jats:italic>Gonyaulax kunsanensis</jats:italic> was related to <jats:italic>S. mirabilis</jats:italic>‐like cysts. A typical <jats:italic>S. membranaceus</jats:italic> cyst from France yielded cells resembling <jats:italic>G. lewisiae</jats:italic> but shared only 75% similarity in LSU rRNA gene sequence with those from South Korea. Molecular phylogeny revealed that the pronounced apical boss is systematically significant, whereas the presence of intergonal processes is insignificant. Two ASVs of 18S rRNA V4 region were respectively identified as <jats:italic>G. kunsanensis</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>G. lewisiae</jats:italic> from the Tara Oceans metabarcoding data. <jats:italic>Gonyaulax kunsanensis</jats:italic> has a wide distribution in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, but <jats:italic>G. lewisiae</jats:italic> has a restricted distribution. One strain of <jats:italic>G. kunsanensis</jats:italic> was examined for yessotoxin content using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), but no detectable amounts of toxins were observed. Our results uncover the hidden diversity within the <jats:italic>G. spinifera</jats:italic> species complex and stress the significance of cyst morphology in the taxonomy of <jats:italic>Gonyaulax</jats:italic>.</jats:p>



Item Type
Article
Authors
Divisions
Primary Division
Programs
Primary Topic
Publication Status
Published
Eprint ID
60063
DOI 10.1111/jpy.70005

Cite as
Huang, S. , Mertens, K. N. , Nguyen‐Ngoc, L. , Doan‐Nhu, H. , Krock, B. , Li, Z. , Luong, D. Q. , Bilien, G. , Pospelova, V. , Shin, H. H. , Plewe, S. and Gu, H. (2025): Cryptic diversity within the Gonyaulax spinifera species complex, its relation to the cyst‐defined species Spiniferites bentorii, S. mirabilis and S. membranaceus, with the description of Gonyaulax carbonell‐mooreae sp. nov. (Gonyaulacales, Dinophyceae) , Journal of Phycology . doi: 10.1111/jpy.70005


Download
[thumbnail of Huang_2025.pdf]
PDF
Huang_2025.pdf - Other
Restricted to Staff Only

Download (2MB)

Share
Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email


Citation

Research Platforms
N/A


Actions
Edit Item Edit Item