AN INTERESTING ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NEOSPHAERA-COCCOLITHOMORPHA AND CERATOLITHUS-CRISTATUS (HAPTOPHYTA)

Phytoplankton studies in the North Atlantic have revealed coccoliths o f Neosphaera coccolithomorpha and Ceratolithus cristatus occurring on the same cell. This may indicate that each of these species represents a stage of one coccolithophorid life cycle, in which each phase posse sses a different heterococcolith type. However, definitive evidence fo r this is lacking.