''Gonyostomum semen'' is a species of freshwater

algae Algae ( , ; : alga ) is an informal term for any organisms of a large and diverse group of photosynthesis, photosynthetic organisms that are not plants, and includes species from multiple distinct clades. Such organisms range from unicellular ...

in the genus '' Gonyostomum'', with worldwide distribution. They cause nuisance

algal blooms Algae ( , ; : alga ) is an informal term for any organisms of a large and diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that are not plants, and includes species from multiple distinct clades. Such organisms range from unicellular microalgae, suc ...

and are known to cause allergic reactions to people swimming in lakes.

Distribution

This freshwater microalgal species is globally distributed. It usually occurs in small, acidic lakes with high concentrations of

dissolved organic carbon Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the fraction of organic carbon Operational definition, operationally defined as that which can pass through a filter with a pore size typically between 0.22 and 0.7 micrometre, micrometers. The fraction remain ...

, which result in sharp gradients of light intensity due to rapid attenuation of light with depth. During the last decades, ''G. semen'' has spread in northern Europe to many non-humic lakes with higher pH. There is evidence that brownification of lakes in these areas, decreasing pH and higher water temperature initiated the spreading of this species.

Physiology

The drop-shaped, vegetative cells of ''G. semen'' are up to 100 μm long, but can vary quite a bit in form and size, as they are only surrounded by a cell membrane instead of a cell wall. These microalgae are, therefore, highly fragile and sensitive to mechanical stress. The cells are filled with many bright green, oval chloroplasts. The bright green color is caused by the pigment chlorophyll ''a''. Additionally, ''G. semen'' displays the pigments chlorophyll ''c1'' and ''c2'', diadinoxanthin, trans-neoxanthin, cis-neoxanthin, ''α'' and ''β'' carotene, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin and alloxanthin. Like other heterokont algae, the planktonic cells of ''G. semen'' possess two differently shaped flagella, which enable them to actively swim around in the water column. Under physical stress, small organelles that sit under the cell membrane and are called trichocysts, explode and release slimy threads. This likely represents a deterring mechanism against predators. These slimy threads also cause skin irritation for some bathers that are swimming in ''G. semen'' blooms. In temperate regions, this species forms blooms during the summer. In spring, vegetative cells hatch from resting stages called cysts. The vegetative cells mainly reproduce asexually through division of the mother cell into two daughter cells. During unfavorable conditions, the motile cells can also form temporary resting stages, which usually germinate within a few days. At the end of summer, vegetative cells divide into two gametes, which fuse later to a planozygote. After these steps of sexual recombination, the planozygotes form resting cysts, which sink to the sediment, where they outlast the winter. These resting stages are much more robust than vegetative cells.

Ecology

''Gonyostomum semen'' can germinate from its resting stages under many environmental conditions, which probably facilitates the dispersal to new habitats. Additionally, this species can grow in a wide range of pH and light conditions allowing the frequent formation of blooms in summer. Lack of efficient grazers in several lakes and the ability to feed on dissolved organic matter might further help ''G. semen'' to thrive in many different habitats.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7083053 Ochrophyta Protists described in 1866 Ochrophyte species