Ribosomal RNA sequences and the diversity of symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae).

• R Rowan

  Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950-3094.

• D A Powers

  Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950-3094.

Abstract

Zooxanthellae are unicellular algae that occur as endosymbionts in many hundreds of common marine invertebrates. The issue of zooxanthella diversity has been difficult to address. Most zooxanthellae have been placed in the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium as one or several species that are not easily distinguished. We compared Symbiodinium and nonsymbiotic dinoflagellates using small ribosomal subunit RNA sequences. Surprisingly, small ribosomal subunit RNA diversity within the genus Symbiodinium is comparable to that observed among different orders of nonsymbiotic dinoflagellates. These data reinforce the conclusion that Symbiodinium-like zooxanthellae represent a collection of distinct species and provide a precedent for a molecular genetic taxonomy of the genus Symbiodinium.

Journal

• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 89 (8), 3639-3643, 1992-04-15

  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Keywords

• Multidisciplinary

Details

• CRID: 1363107369541577344
• NII Article ID: 30016293728
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.89.8.3639
• ISSN: 10916490
• ISSN: 00278424
• Web Site: https://pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.89.8.3639
• Data Source:
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles