Chrysochromulina fragaria sp nov (Prymnesiophyceae), a new haptophyte flagellate from Norwegian waters

Chrysochromulina fragaria sp. nov, was one of the dominant species during t he 1994 and 1995 Chrysochromulina blooms off the southern coast of Norway. It was isolated by the serial dilution culture method from a surface water sample collected during the bloom in May-June 1994. The cells are spherical , 4 to 8 mu m in diameter, and possess a coiling haptonema that is shorter than the two equal to subequal flagella. Each cell contains two chloroplast s, a nucleus, and one mitochondrion, which appears to be reticulate. The pe riplast is covered by monomorphic scales (scale faces with identical patter n) of two types arranged in layers. The scale faces have a pattern of radia ting ribs arranged in quadrants. One type has inflexed rims, whereas the ot her type has erect rims. The first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) rDNA sequence and scale morphology of C. fragaria are compared with that of Chry sochromulina sp. CCMP 1204. Despite the great similarities in scale morphol ogy, their ITS1 rDNA regions are very different, indicating that they are d ifferent species. Both C. fragaria and Chrysochromulina sp. CCMP 1204 are n ontoxic to Artemia franciscana nauplii.