Is the Gelatinous Matrix of Nassellaria (Radiolaria) a Strategy for Coping With Oligotrophy?

ABSTRACT: Radiolaria are heterotrophic protists abundant in the world's oceans, playing important roles in biogeochemical cycles. Some host photosynthetic algae, contributing to primary production. Such mixotrophic behaviour is believed to explain their success in oligotrophic waters, notably Collodaria, exclusively mixotrophic radiolarians within a gelatinous matrix. Yet, understanding of Radiolaria ecology is limited to direct observations, as they have so far withstood reproduction in culture and lack genome data. Sampling oligotrophic California Current revealed abundant, rarely observed Nassellaria of the genus Phlebarachnium, characterised to live within a gelatinous matrix. Phylogenetic reconstruction of ribosomal DNA suggests that distantly related Nassellaria lineages independently develope

SUBMITTER: Llopis Monferrer N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12045653 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature