Noctiluca scintillans: Difference between revisions
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==Description and Significance== | ==Description and Significance== | ||
''Noctiluca scintillans'', also known as the sea sparkle, is a single-celled dinoflagellate that exhibits bioluminescence. They are free-living marine plankton, which range between 200-2000 micrometers in diameter. They are found mostly in estuaries and other coastal regions and can be found in both warm and cold waters. ''N. scintillans'' are heterotrophic and non-photosynthetic, meaning they receive their carbon from organic compounds and receive their energy through the ingestion of organic substances. They don’t have any chloroplasts so, their cytoplasm is relatively clear. ''N. scintillans'' are non-motile, even though they possess a flagellum, and only move vertically by changing their buoyancy using gas vacuoles. N. scintillans can reproduce asexually, by binary fission, and sexually, using isogametes through a diplontic lifecycle. <ref>{{cite web | ''Noctiluca scintillans'', also known as the sea sparkle, is a single-celled dinoflagellate that exhibits bioluminescence. They are free-living marine plankton, which range between 200-2000 micrometers in diameter. They are found mostly in estuaries and other coastal regions and can be found in both warm and cold waters. ''N. scintillans'' are heterotrophic and non-photosynthetic, meaning they receive their carbon from organic compounds and receive their energy through the ingestion of organic substances. They don’t have any chloroplasts so, their cytoplasm is relatively clear. ''N. scintillans'' are non-motile, even though they possess a flagellum, and only move vertically by changing their buoyancy using gas vacuoles. N. scintillans can reproduce asexually, by binary fission, and sexually, using isogametes through a diplontic lifecycle. <ref name=harmful>{{cite web | ||
| last = Macartney | | last = Macartney | ||
| first = N/A | | first = N/A | ||
| title = Identifying Harmful Marine Dinoflagellates | | title = Identifying Harmful Marine Dinoflagellates | ||
| url= http://botany.si.edu/references/dinoflag/Taxa/Nscintillans.htm | | url= http://botany.si.edu/references/dinoflag/Taxa/Nscintillans.htm | ||
| accessdate = 2009-04 }}<ref/> The bioluminescent property of ''N. scintillans'' is a tourist attraction for many countries throughout the world. People would take boat rides and watch these dinoflagellates emit flashes of blue light when disturbed, giving them the name sea sparkle. | | accessdate = 2009-04 }}<ref/> | ||
The bioluminescent property of ''N. scintillans'' is a tourist attraction for many countries throughout the world. People would take boat rides and watch these dinoflagellates emit flashes of blue light when disturbed, giving them the name sea sparkle. | |||
==Genome and Structure== | ==Genome and Structure== | ||
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==Cell Structure and Metabolism== | ==Cell Structure and Metabolism== | ||
''N. scintillans'' has a round, balloon-like, body shape and is unarmored, meaning it does not have a protective shell. Since they do not photosynthesize they don not contain chloroplasts, and thus are fairly clear. The red and green color usually associated with this species during red and green tides, are due to the pigments of the photosynthetic symbionts within the vacuoles of ''N. scintillans'' and not the species itself. ''N. scintillans'' has a ventral groove that runs through it's body which contains the flagellum, a tooth and a tentacle. They also have a mouth-like structure called the cytostome, which is used to capture and consume prey. | ''N. scintillans'' has a round, balloon-like, body shape and is unarmored, meaning it does not have a protective shell. Since they do not photosynthesize they don not contain chloroplasts, and thus are fairly clear. The red and green color usually associated with this species during red and green tides, are due to the pigments of the photosynthetic symbionts within the vacuoles of ''N. scintillans'' and not the species itself. ''N. scintillans'' has a ventral groove that runs through it's body which contains the flagellum, a tooth and a tentacle. <ref name=harmful />They also have a mouth-like structure called the cytostome, which is used to capture and consume prey. | ||
''N. scintillans'' is a phagotrophic species with many food vacuoles found throughout it's cytoplasm. They engulf smaller marine species such as diatoms, protozoans, fish eggs, and certain bacteria, and then digest them in these food vacuoles. ''N. scintillans'' also contains gas vacuoles, which are filled with ammonia gas, that allow them to control their buoyancy. | ''N. scintillans'' is a phagotrophic species with many food vacuoles found throughout it's cytoplasm. They engulf smaller marine species such as diatoms, protozoans, fish eggs, and certain bacteria, and then digest them in these food vacuoles. ''N. scintillans'' also contains gas vacuoles, which are filled with ammonia gas, that allow them to control their buoyancy. | ||
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==Ecology and Pathology== | ==Ecology and Pathology== | ||
''N. scintillans'' are found mostly in coastal areas, in both temperate and tropical waters. Their population density has been found to be dependent on food availability, which is why they tend to stay in shallow, coastal areas, where phytoplankton thrive. They are also a major factor on the population density of zooplankton. | ''N. scintillans'' are found mostly in coastal areas, in both temperate and tropical waters. Their population density has been found to be dependent on food availability, which is why they tend to stay in shallow, coastal areas, where phytoplankton thrive. They are also a major factor on the population density of zooplankton. <ref name=zooplankton> | ||
{{cite journal | |||
| authorlink = Noyan Yilmaz | |||
| title = Evidences for influence of a heterotrophic dinoflagellate (Noctiluca scintillans) on zooplankton community structure in a highly stratified basin | |||
| journal = Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science | |||
| volume = 64.2-3 | |||
| pages = 475-485 | |||
| date = 2005}}</ref> | |||
''N. scintillans'' are sometimes known to have a large population boom known as red or green tides (depending on what color endosymbionts are present in their vacuoles.) These tides cause the death of many marine animals. ''N. scintillans'' does not, however, release exotoxins like many other dinoflagellates do. Instead, it is believed that they kill these animals by suffocation due to the release of ammonia and carbon dioxide, causing anoxic water conditions. | ''N. scintillans'' are sometimes known to have a large population boom known as red or green tides (depending on what color endosymbionts are present in their vacuoles.) These tides cause the death of many marine animals. ''N. scintillans'' does not, however, release exotoxins like many other dinoflagellates do. Instead, it is believed that they kill these animals by suffocation due to the release of ammonia and carbon dioxide, causing anoxic water conditions. | ||
==Current Research== | ==Current Research== | ||
Ride Tide of ''Noctiluca Scintillans'' and it's Impact on the Coastal Water Quality of the Near-Shore Waters, Off the Rushikulya River, Bay of Bengal | ===Ride Tide of ''Noctiluca Scintillans'' and it's Impact on the Coastal Water Quality of the Near-Shore Waters, Off the Rushikulya River, Bay of Bengal=== | ||
This study is being conducted to check the quality of the water after red tides of ''N. scintillans''. The researchers take samples of the water from different depths and determine the quality of the water by checking temperature, salinity, nitrate, nitrite and phosphate concentration. | This study is being conducted to check the quality of the water after red tides of ''N. scintillans''. The researchers take samples of the water from different depths and determine the quality of the water by checking temperature, salinity, nitrate, nitrite and phosphate concentration. | ||
Seasonality of the Bloom-Forming Hetertrophic dinoflagellate ''Noctiluca Scintillans'' in the Gulf of Oman in Relation to Environmental Conditions | ===Seasonality of the Bloom-Forming Hetertrophic dinoflagellate ''Noctiluca Scintillans'' in the Gulf of Oman in Relation to Environmental Conditions=== | ||
This study is being conducted to find what environmental factors contribute to the population blooms of ''Noctiluca Scintillans''. They are checking hydrographic and biological factors as well as other factors such as wind intensity. | This study is being conducted to find what environmental factors contribute to the population blooms of ''Noctiluca Scintillans''. They are checking hydrographic and biological factors as well as other factors such as wind intensity. They found that the greatest environmental factor affecting the abundance and biomass of N. scintillans is diatom blooms. <ref name=zooplankton /> | ||
Revision as of 17:13, 9 May 2009
Description and Significance
Noctiluca scintillans, also known as the sea sparkle, is a single-celled dinoflagellate that exhibits bioluminescence. They are free-living marine plankton, which range between 200-2000 micrometers in diameter. They are found mostly in estuaries and other coastal regions and can be found in both warm and cold waters. N. scintillans are heterotrophic and non-photosynthetic, meaning they receive their carbon from organic compounds and receive their energy through the ingestion of organic substances. They don’t have any chloroplasts so, their cytoplasm is relatively clear. N. scintillans are non-motile, even though they possess a flagellum, and only move vertically by changing their buoyancy using gas vacuoles. N. scintillans can reproduce asexually, by binary fission, and sexually, using isogametes through a diplontic lifecycle. Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
N. scintillans are sometimes known to have a large population boom known as red or green tides (depending on what color endosymbionts are present in their vacuoles.) These tides cause the death of many marine animals. N. scintillans does not, however, release exotoxins like many other dinoflagellates do. Instead, it is believed that they kill these animals by suffocation due to the release of ammonia and carbon dioxide, causing anoxic water conditions.
Current Research
Ride Tide of Noctiluca Scintillans and it's Impact on the Coastal Water Quality of the Near-Shore Waters, Off the Rushikulya River, Bay of Bengal
This study is being conducted to check the quality of the water after red tides of N. scintillans. The researchers take samples of the water from different depths and determine the quality of the water by checking temperature, salinity, nitrate, nitrite and phosphate concentration.
Seasonality of the Bloom-Forming Hetertrophic dinoflagellate Noctiluca Scintillans in the Gulf of Oman in Relation to Environmental Conditions
This study is being conducted to find what environmental factors contribute to the population blooms of Noctiluca Scintillans. They are checking hydrographic and biological factors as well as other factors such as wind intensity. They found that the greatest environmental factor affecting the abundance and biomass of N. scintillans is diatom blooms. [1]
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedzooplankton