Polykrikaceae | |
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A light micrograph of Polykrikos kofoidii showing an extruded nematocyst. Scale bar = 10µm. [1] | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
Clade: | SAR |
Clade: | Alveolata |
Phylum: | Myzozoa |
Superclass: | Dinoflagellata |
Class: | Dinophyceae |
Order: | Gymnodiniales |
Family: | Polykrikaceae Kofoid & Swezy, 1921 |
Genera | |
The Polykrikaceae (also known as Polykrikidae) are a family of athecate dinoflagellates of the order Gymnodiniales. Members of the family are known as polykrikoids. The family contains two genera: Polykrikos and Pheopolykrikos . [2]
The most distinctive feature of polykrikoids is their formation of multinucleate "pseudocolonies" consisting of an even number of subunit zooids. The two genera differ in number of nuclei; possessing two nuclei regardless of the number of zooids is a synapomorphy for Polykrikos, whereas Pheopolykrikos possess equal numbers of nuclei and zooids. [3]
Along with the Warnowiaceae (warnowiids), polykrikoids are known for possessing unusually complex subcellular structures. In particular, an extrusome complex of two organelles called the nematocyst and taeniocyst is considered a synapomorphy for Polykrikos. [1] [3] Molecular phylogenetics studies suggest some inconsistency in the taxonomy of this group, particularly in the assignment of species to one of the two genera. [4] [5]
Most polykrikoids are planktonic, although one species - P. lebourae - is benthic. [3] The family includes photosynthetic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic species. [6] Some species, such as P. kofoidii , are of scientific interest due to their status as predators of other dinoflagellates, a behavior that is significant in the regulation of algal blooms. [6] [7] [8] Others, such as Ph. hartmanii (which has been reclassified P. hartmanii ) [5] are themselves causes of ichthyotoxic algal blooms. [9] P. hartmanii is capable of both heterothallic (outcrossing) and homothallic (self-fertilizing) sexual reproduction. [10]
The reproductive behaviors of polykrikoids are mostly not well understood, although P. kofoidii has been studied and found to have a complex life cycle of both vegetative (asexual) and sexual reproduction complicated by its pseudocolonial structure. [11]
The family demonstrates a complex evolutionary history indicating multiple instances of loss of photosynthetic plastids in different lineages. [6] The distinctive pseudocolonial structure may have arisen in multiple evolutionary lineages from ancestors capable of forming chains of distinct individual cells. [3]