College
College of Marine Science
Mentor Information
Margaret Mars Brisbin
Description
The Acantharia are heterotrophic marine protists belonging to the phylum Radiolaria. They are characterized by endoskeletons composed of celestite crystals and by a highly symmetrical anatomy consisting of strontium sulfate spines joining together at the center. Many acantharians engage in symbiotic relationships with photosynthetic microorganisms, allowing them to exhibit a mixotrophic lifestyle. Acantharians host a diverse population of symbionts, including dinoflagellates like Heterocapsa and Scrippsiella or haptophytes such as Chrysochromulina. During microscopic examination of a marine sample, an unfamiliar organism displaying morphological characteristics similar to those of an acantharian was observed. It was then hypothesized that the organism belonged to the class Acantharia. To evaluate this hypothesis, molecular analyses, including RNA extraction, PCR, 18s gene sequencing, and phylogenetic comparisons, were conducted. The analyses confirmed the organism to be an acantharian and additionally revealed the presence of Pelagomonas calceolata, a marine unicellular flagellated alga. The co-existence of these organisms suggested a symbiotic relationship between the two. Further studies could be conducted to confirm their associations, as well as identifying its type of symbiotic relationship.
Molecular Identification of an Acantharian and Its Photosymbiotic Companion
The Acantharia are heterotrophic marine protists belonging to the phylum Radiolaria. They are characterized by endoskeletons composed of celestite crystals and by a highly symmetrical anatomy consisting of strontium sulfate spines joining together at the center. Many acantharians engage in symbiotic relationships with photosynthetic microorganisms, allowing them to exhibit a mixotrophic lifestyle. Acantharians host a diverse population of symbionts, including dinoflagellates like Heterocapsa and Scrippsiella or haptophytes such as Chrysochromulina. During microscopic examination of a marine sample, an unfamiliar organism displaying morphological characteristics similar to those of an acantharian was observed. It was then hypothesized that the organism belonged to the class Acantharia. To evaluate this hypothesis, molecular analyses, including RNA extraction, PCR, 18s gene sequencing, and phylogenetic comparisons, were conducted. The analyses confirmed the organism to be an acantharian and additionally revealed the presence of Pelagomonas calceolata, a marine unicellular flagellated alga. The co-existence of these organisms suggested a symbiotic relationship between the two. Further studies could be conducted to confirm their associations, as well as identifying its type of symbiotic relationship.
