Photopigment, Absorption, and Growth Responses of Marine Cryptophytes to Varying Spectral Irradiance.

The underwater light field of lakes, estuaries, and oceans may vary greatly in spectral composition. Phytoplankton in these environments must contain pigments that absorb the available colors of light. If spectral quality changes, acclimation to the new spectral environment would confer an ecological advantage in terms of photosynthesis and growth.

Light capture and pigment diversity in marine and freshwater cryptophytes.

Phenotypic traits associated with light capture and phylogenetic relationships were characterized in 34 strains of diversely pigmented marine and freshwater cryptophytes. Nuclear SSU and partial LSU rDNA sequence data from 33 of these strains plus an additional 66 strains produced a concatenated rooted maximum likelihood tree that classified the strains into 7 distinct clades. Molecular and phenotypic data together support: (i) the reclassification of Cryptomonas irregularis NIES 698 to the genus Rhodomonas, (ii) revision of phycobiliprotein (PBP) diversity within the genus Hemiselmis to include cryptophyte phycocyanin (Cr-PC) 569, (iii) the inclusion of previously unidentified strain CCMP 2293 into the genus Falcomonas, even though it contains cryptophyte phycoerythrin 545 (Cr-PE 545), and (iv) the inclusion of previously unidentified strain CCMP 3175, which contains Cr-PE 545, in a clade with PC-containing Chroomonas species.