title: Two New Species of Marine Saprotrophic Sphaeroformids in the Mesomycetozoea Isolated From the Sub-Arctic Bering Sea.
abstract: The genus Sphaeroforma previously encompassed organisms isolated exclusively from animal symbionts in marine systems. The first saprotrophic sphaeroformids (Mesomycetozoea) isolated from non-animal hosts are described here. Sphaeroforma sirkka and S. napiecek are also the first species in the genus possessing endogenous DNA-containing motile propagules and central vacuoles, traits that have previously guided morphological differentiation of sphaeroformids from the genus Creolimax. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the 18S rRNA and the ITS1-5.8S--ITS2 loci firmly place S. sirkka and S. napiecek within Sphaeroforma, extending the number of known species to six within this genus. The discovery of these species increases the geographical range, cellular variation and life history complexity of the sphaeroformids.
authors.affiliation: School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757220, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA. Electronic address: bhassett@alaska.edu.
authors.forename: Brandon T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Hassett
authors.affiliation: School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757220, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA; University of Alaska Museum of the North, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 756960, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6960, USA.
authors.forename: J Andrés
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757220, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA; Institute of Marine Research, Postboks 6404, N-9294, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gradinger
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D050298:Mesomycetozoea / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: Bering Sea; Mesomycetozoea; Sphaeroforma.; rRNA; saprotrophic