Oophila

Chlamydomonad alga
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Chlorophyceae
Order: Chlorococcales
Family: Chlorococcaceae
Genus: Oophila
Species: O. amblystomatis
Binomial name
Oophila amblystomatis
Printz, 1927[1]

Oophila amblystomatis, commonly known as chlamydomonad algae or salamander algae, is a species of single-celled green algae. The Latin specific name means "loves salamander eggs". It does not occur anywhere in nature other than in the eggs of the spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum. The alga can invade and grow in the amphibian's egg capsule. Once inside, it metabolizes the carbon dioxide produced by the embryo and provides it with oxygen as a result of photosynthesis. This is an example of symbiosis.[2]

This symbiosis between Oophila and the salamander may exist beyond the oocyte and early embryonic stage. Chlorophyll autofluorescence observation and ribosomal DNA analysis suggest that this algal species has invaded embryonic salamander tissues and cells during development and may be even transmitted to the next generation.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Oophila amblystomatis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  2. ↑ Nature Trivia, Spotted Salamander at Henderson State University. Accessed 4 August 2008.
  3. ↑ Kerney, Ryan; et al. (2011). "Intracellular invasion of green algae in a salamander host". PNAS. Forthcoming. doi:10.1073/pnas.1018259108.

Further reading

  • Gilbert, P. W. (1942). "Observations on the eggs of Ambystoma maculatum with especial reference to the green algae found within the egg envelopes". Ecology. 23 (2): 215–227. doi:10.2307/1931088. 
  • Kim, E.; Lin, Y.; Kerney, R.; Blumenberg, L.; Bishop, C. (2014). "Phylogenetic analysis of algal symbionts associated with four North American amphibian egg masses". PloS One. 9 (11): e108915. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0108915. 
  • Valls, J. H.; Mills, N. E. (2007). "Intermittent hypoxia in eggs of Ambystoma maculatum: embryonic development and egg capsule conductance". J. Exp. Biol. 210 (14): 2430–2435. doi:10.1242/jeb.003541. 
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