Hi,
We have just encountered with an unidentified phyto-/zoo-plankton species which was retrieved in surface water samples of Chabahar Bay (coastal waters of Gulf of Oman) during our algal bloom monitoring routine. Live cells were highly mobile, small in size and very dense, use of fixatives failed to fix specimens (the cells quickly become shrunken). Can anyone help me to identify this species?
Dear Amuir,
Yeah, Malcolm is right. It is Mesodinium. Moreover, looks like M. rubrum, that is famous due to its photosynthetical activity and sometimes produces "red blooms" that saw even Ch. Darwin. Exist about 6 species but other are larger or living in fresh or brachish water (like acarus). I'm att some files about.
Andrey
Dear Andrey,
Thank you very much for your answer and the attached papers. I am just wondering if Mesodinium can be fixed using common fixatives (maybe through a modified protocol)
Dear Amir,
normally should use Nissenbaum or Shaudinn liquids, or osmic acid. But some species can be fixed by pure 4% form. and accid. even alcohol. For Polyhymenophora only typical 3 first fix. Hardly ever by two last as pellicle is normally very soft. I elaborated method for fixation and making preparation for a single cell. But it needs some special reagents. Anyway identification better to do when alive cells but inhabited by solution of methyl- or oxypropillcellulose in undercover glass drop.
Andrey
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