''Dicloster'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

green algae The green algae (: green alga) are a group of chlorophyll-containing autotrophic eukaryotes consisting of the phylum Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister group that contains the Chlorophyta and Charophyta/ Streptophyta. The land plants ...

in the family

Chlorellaceae Chlorellaceae are a family of green algae in the order Chlorellales. About 250 species are currently accepted in the family. Members of the family are distributed worldwide and are common in a variety of freshwater, terrestrial and marine enviro ...

, containing the sole species ''Dicloster acuatus''. It is found in

freshwater Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. The term excludes seawater and brackish water, but it does include non-salty mi ...

habitats as

plankton Plankton are the diverse collection of organisms that drift in Hydrosphere, water (or atmosphere, air) but are unable to actively propel themselves against ocean current, currents (or wind). The individual organisms constituting plankton are ca ...

, and is distributed around the world. ''Dicloster acuatus'' is a colonial alga, consisting of coenobia of two or four cells, attached at their centers (in four-celled colonies, the two pairs of cells are arranged in different levels). Cells are 30–60 μm long and 3–9 μm wide, narrowly crescent-shaped, with narrowly tapering apices, pointing away from the center. Cells are embedded in a mucilaginous matrix. The

cell wall A cell wall is a structural layer that surrounds some Cell type, cell types, found immediately outside the cell membrane. It can be tough, flexible, and sometimes rigid. Primarily, it provides the cell with structural support, shape, protection, ...

is smooth. Cells contain a single

nucleus Nucleus (: nuclei) is a Latin word for the seed inside a fruit. It most often refers to: *Atomic nucleus, the very dense central region of an atom *Cell nucleus, a central organelle of a eukaryotic cell, containing most of the cell's DNA Nucleu ...

with a single, parietal

chloroplast A chloroplast () is a type of membrane-bound organelle, organelle known as a plastid that conducts photosynthesis mostly in plant cell, plant and algae, algal cells. Chloroplasts have a high concentration of chlorophyll pigments which captur ...

and up to five (typically one or two)

pyrenoid Pyrenoids are sub-cellular phase-separated micro-compartments found in chloroplasts of many algae,Giordano, M., Beardall, J., & Raven, J. A. (2005). CO2 concentrating mechanisms in algae: mechanisms, environmental modulation, and evolution. ''An ...

s). Reproduction occurs asexually by the formation of

autospore Autospores are a type of spores that are produced by algae to enable asexual reproduction and spread. They are non-motile and non-Flagellated cell, flagellated Aplanospore, aplanospores that are generated within a parent cell and have the same sha ...

s, with each cell forming up to four coenobia.

Sexual reproduction Sexual reproduction is a type of reproduction that involves a complex life cycle in which a gamete ( haploid reproductive cells, such as a sperm or egg cell) with a single set of chromosomes combines with another gamete to produce a zygote tha ...

or zoospores have not been recorded from this genus. Because of its coenobial morphology resembling genera such as ''

Scenedesmus ''Scenedesmus'' is a genus of green algae, in the class Chlorophyceae. They are colonial and non-motile. They are one of the most common components of phytoplankton in freshwater habitats worldwide. Taxonomy The starting point of ''Scenedesmus'' ...

'' or '' Selenastrum'', it has been placed in the families

Scenedesmaceae Scenedesmaceae is a family of green algae in the order Sphaeropleales. ''Scenedesmus'' algae are commonly found in freshwater plankton. The former family Coelastraceae is considered a synonym of Scenedesmaceae. The family has existed since at ...

and

Selenastraceae Selenastraceae is a family of green algae in the order Sphaeropleales. Members of this family are common components of the phytoplankton in freshwater habitats worldwide. A few species have been found in brackish and marine habitats, such as in t ...

at points. However, analysis of

18S ribosomal RNA 18S ribosomal RNA (abbreviated 18S rRNA) is a part of the ribosomal RNA in eukaryotes. It is a component of the Eukaryotic small ribosomal subunit (40S) and the cytosolic homologue of both the 12S ribosomal RNA, 12S rRNA in mitochondria and the 1 ...

and ITS2 sequences have shown that it is more closely related to genera such as '' Parachlorella'' in the family

References

Trebouxiophyceae genera Chlorellaceae Freshwater algae Monotypic algae genera {{Green algae-stub