Synura is a genus of colonial chrysomonad algae covered in silica scales.[2] It is the most conspicuous genus of the order Synurales.[3]
Description
Species of Synura form microscopic, spherical colonies with cells attached at the center. Cells are variously shaped, typically spherical to pear-shaped or club-shaped. Each cell contains two plastids aligned with the long axis of the cell; they impart a distinctive golden color to the cells, which come from chlorophyll c1 and fucoxanthin. Cells are covered in scales made of silica. Two flagella are present.[4]
Identification of species depends on the morphology of the scales. For many species, a positive identification is only possible with an electron microscope, either with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM).[4]
Classification
The present taxonomy recognizes five sections:[2][3]
- Section Peterseniae
- Section Spinosae
- Section Echinulatae
- Section Splendidae
- Section Uvellae
References
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^ Pusztai, Martin; Čertnerová, Dora; Škaloudová, Magda; Škaloud, Pavel (2016). "Elucidating the Phylogeny and Taxonomic Position of the genus Chrysodidymus Prowse (Chrysophyceae, Synurales)". Cryptogamie, Algologie. 37 (4): 297–307. doi:10.7872/crya/v37.iss4.2016.297. S2CID 51739744.
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^ a b Škaloud, Pavel; Kristiansen, Jørgen; Škaloudová, Magda (July 2013). "Developments in the taxonomy of silica-scaled chrysophytes – from morphological and ultrastructural to molecular approaches". Nordic Journal of Botany (published August 2013). 31 (4): 385–402. doi:10.1111/j.1756-1051.2013.00119.x.
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^ a b Škaloud P, Škaloudová M, Procházková A, Němcová Y (2014). "Morphological delineation and distribution patterns of four newly described species within the Synura petersenii species complex (Chrysophyceae, Stramenopiles)". European Journal of Phycology. 49 (2): 213–229. doi:10.1080/09670262.2014.905710.
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^ a b Siver, Peter A. (2014). "Chapter 14. Synurophyte Algae". In Wehr, John D.; Sheath, Robert G.; Kociolek, J. Patrick (eds.). Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (2 ed.). Elsevier Inc. ISBN 978-0-12-385876-4.
