High-frequency sampling unveils biotic and abiotic drivers of rapid phytoplankton morphological changes.

Phytoplankton, as primary producers, play a key role in aquatic ecosystems. Their community turnover is shaped by morphological traits that enable adaptation to diverse abiotic and biotic factors. Yet, the temporal scale of these dynamics remains poorly understood due to limited high-frequency sampling studies.

Expanding our knowledge of Synurales (Chrysophyceae) in Florida, United States: Proposing three novel Mallomonas taxa.

We conducted a survey of Synurales diversity in Florida (United States), focusing on two established hotspots-Ocala National Forest and Myakka River State Park-and two previously unexplored sites-Manatee Lake and Lake Lee. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we identified 69 species, increasing the total number recorded from Florida to 90. Among these, three species-Mallomonas cornea sp.

Large Genomes Are Associated With Greater Cell Size and Ecological Shift Towards More Nitrogen-Rich and Higher-Latitude Environments in Microalgae of the Genus Synura.

The nuclear genome is essential for encoding most of the genes required for cellular processes, but its size alone can alter the characteristics of cells and organisms. Yet, genome size variation and its ecological and evolutionary impacts, particularly in microorganisms, are not well understood. We used flow cytometry to estimate genome size and GC content in 53 evolutionary lineages of the microalgal genus Synura (Chrysophyceae, Stramenopiles).

Rapid diversification of a free-living protist is driven by adaptation to climate and habitat.

Microbial eukaryotes (protists) have major functional roles in aquatic ecosystems, including the biogeochemical cycling of elements as well as occupying various roles in the food web. Despite their importance for ecosystem function, the factors that drive diversification in protists are not known. Here, we aimed to identify the factors that drive differentiation and, subsequently, speciation in a free-living protist, Synura petersenii (Chrysophyceae).

Morphological evolution of silica scales in the freshwater genus Synura (Stramenopiles).

A high degree of morphological variability is expressed between the ornately sculptured siliceous scales formed by species in the chrysophycean genus, Synura. In this study, we aimed to uncover the general principles and trends underlying the evolution of scale morphology in this genus. We assessed the relationships among thirty extant Synura species using a robust molecular analysis that included six genes, coupled with morphological characterization of the species-specific scales.

Comparing Morphological and Molecular Estimates of Species Diversity in the Freshwater Genus Synura (Stramenopiles): A Model for Understanding Diversity of Eukaryotic Microorganisms.

We performed a comparison of molecular and morphological diversity in a freshwater colonial genus Synura (Chrysophyceae, Stramenopiles), using the island of Newfoundland (Canada) as a case study. We examined the morphological species diversity in collections from 79 localities, and compared these findings to diversity based on molecular characters for 150 strains isolated from the same sites. Of 27 species or species-level lineages identified, only one third was recorded by both molecular and morphological techniques, showing both approaches are complementary in estimating species diversity within this genus.