Temperature
Blue- green algae formed akinetes in cultures at water temperatures of 10 to 37˚C depending upon the species (Table 5). Most of the green algae investigated reproduced in cultures optimally at 20- 25˚C, but Scenedesmus obliquus and Ulva fenestrata formed gametes at 15˚C and Urospora sp. at 4˚C (Table 5). Different diatoms showed sexuality and resting spore formation at 2- 30˚C. Temperatures most favorable for reproduction of red algae assessed were 10- 20˚C, but subarctic Clathromorphum formed conceptacles at 2- 3˚C. Reproduction in brown algae occurred at somewhat lower temperatures than in red algae assessed (Table 5). In a brown alga, different life cycle stages may occur in different seasons since they have different temperature optima. In kelp members (Halosiphon=Chorda, Macrocystis), gametogenesis occurred at somewhat lower temperatures than zoosporogenesis. Dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense (= Gonyaulax tamarensis) formed sexual stages at 10- 12˚C and Gymnodinium pseudopalustre formed gametes at 15˚C (Table 5). Chrysophyceae members formed statospores at temperatures less than 20˚C and a Raphidophyceae member Gonyostomum formed resting cysts at temperatures less than 10˚C (Table 5).
Table 5 Optimum temperature (˚C) to induce reproduction in different algae
Alga Structure/ Optimum Reference
process induced temperature
(˚C)
Cyanophyceae
Anabaena crassa, Akinete 10 and 15 Li et al. 1997
A. flos-aquae,
A. mucosa, A. spiroides,
A. ucrainica
Anabaena doliolum Akinete 32 ± 2 Pandey and
(also growth) Kashyap 1987
Anabaena torulosa Akinete 37 > 32 > 29 Fernandes and
Thomas 1982
Cylindrospermopsis Akinete 15- 25 Moore et al. 2003,
raciborskii 2005
Nodularia spumigena Akinete 32 Pandey and
Talpasayi 1980;
Pandey 1989
Spirulina strain Cell division 30 Raoof and
Kaushik 2002
Chlorophyceae
Anadyomene stellata, Swarmer 23- 25 Jónsson 1962;
A. wrightii Enomoto and
Hirose 1970
Chlamydomonas Zoospore 21 Mergenhagen 1980
reinhardtii
(wild type strain)
Chlamydomonas Zygospore 26 Trainor 1958
chlamydogama
Chlorella sp. Cell division 27- 33 Novak and Brune
1985
Cladophora glomerata Zoosporogenesis 15- 20 McNaught 1964;
Mason 1965;
Bellis and McLarty
1967; Jansson 1974;
Hoffman and
Graham 1984
Akinete 0- 27 Mason 1965
(Year round)
Closterium acerosum Conjugation 18- 22 Vidyavati and
Nizam 1973
Coleochaete scutata Zoospore 20- 25 Graham et al. 1984,
1986
Cosmarium botrytis Zygospore 20- 30 Starr 1955
Enteromorpha Reproduction < 30 Mairh et al. 1986
flexuosa
Enteromorpha Swarmer 20- 25 Dan et al. 2002;
prolifera release/ asexual Fu et al. 2008
reproduction
Gayralia spp. Zoospore 22 Pellizzari
induction, (at 20 psu et al. 2008
release salinity)
Haematococcus Gametogenesis > 30 Schulze 1927
pluvialis
Micrasterias Zygote 20- 28 Imaizumi and
thomasiana formation Doida 1990
Monostroma sp. Zoospore 5- 14 Tatewaki 1972
Oedogonium Oogonia, 25 > 20 Starr 1960
cardiacum antheridia
Oedogonium sp. Oogonial 20 Rawitscher-Kunkel
mother cell and Machlis 1962
Pithophora oedogonia Akinete 20- 25 Agrawal and Sarma
1983; Agrawal and
Singh 2000
Protosiphon botryoides Zoospore 20- 30 Stewart and
formation (maximum O’Kelley 1966
at 25˚C)
Gamete 23- 26 Klebs 1896; Oltmanns
formation 1922; Maher 1946,
1947
Rhizoclonium Zoospore 22 Gupta and Agrawal
hieroglyphicum formation, 2004 b
liberation
Scenedesmus Gametogenesis 15 Trainor and Burg
obliquus (to tolerate 1965 b; Cain and
> 28˚C as zygotes) Trainor 1976;
Trainor 1980, 1996
Stigeoclonium pascheri Zoospore 25- 30 Agrawal 1993
Akinete 25 Agrawal and Sarma
1982 a
Ulothrix acrorhiza Akinete 25 Ohgai and Toraya 1980
Ulothrix zonata Zoosporogenesis 20 Graham et al. 1985
Ulva fasciata Gametophytes 20 Mohsen et al. 1973 a
Zoospore induction 25 Mantri et al. 2011
Zoospore release 26 Subbaramaiah 1970
Ulva fenestrata Sporo- and 15 Kalita and Tytlianov
gametogenesis 2003
Ulva mutabilis Meiotic zoospore 21-22 Nordby 1977
Ulva pertusa Zoospore 15- 20 Hiraoka and Enomoto
1998; Han and Choi
2005
Ulva spinulosa Zoospore 20 Hiraoka et al. 2003
Urospora sp. Gametogenesis 4 Kornmann 1961
Bacillariophyceae
Chaetoceros diadema Resting spore 2- 15 French and Hargraves
(at which it 1985
grew vegetatively)
Chaetoceros laciniosus Spermatogenesis 5 Jensen et al. 2003
(in small cells)
Cocconeis scutellum Sexuality 10- 14 Mizuno and Okuda
1985
Coscinodiscus Spermatogenesis 30 Werner 1971
asteromphalus (an increase in
light intensity also)
Eunotia soleirolii Spore 24 von Stosch and
Fecher 1979
Leptocylindrus danicus Resting spore 2- 15 French and
(at which it Hargraves 1985
grew vegetatively)
Sexuality 10 and 15 French and
Hargraves 1985
Lithodesmium undulatum Sexuality 24 Manton et al. 1968
(strong light,
fresh culture)
Rhabdonema adriaticum Auxospore 15- 21 Rozumek 1968
Stephanopyxis palmeriana Auxospore 21 Drebes 1966
Resting spore 12 Drebes 1966
Stephanopyxis turris Gametes, 21 von Stosch and
auxospore Drebes 1964
Resting spore 3- 15 von Stosch and
Drebes 1964
Rhodophyceae
Acrosymphyton Tetrasporangia 12 Cortel-Breeman
purpuriferum and Hoopen 1978
Bangiadulcis atropurpurea Monospore 20 Graham and
(=Bangia atropurpurea) Graham 1987
Clathromorphum Conceptacle 2- 3 Adey 1973
circumscriptum
Colaconema proskaueri Tetrasporangia 15 West 1971
(=Acrochaetium proskaueri)
Eupogodon planus Gametangia 20 Orfanidis et al. 1999
Tetrasporangia 15- 20 Orfanidis et al. 1999
Rhodochorton Tetrasporangia 10 Dring and West
purpureum 1983
Phaeophyceae
Desmarestia viridis Sex organs 3- 5 Kornmann 1962
Dictyota kunthii Tetrasporangia 20 Hoffmann and
(=Glossophora kunthii) Malbrán 1989
Halosiphon tomentosus Gametogenesis 1- 8 Maier 1984
(=Chorda tomentosa)
Macrocystis spp. Zoospore release 15 Buschmann et al.
2004
Sporophyte growth 8 Buschmann et al.
2004
Nereocystis luetkeana Gametes 5- 15 Vadas 1972
Petalonia fascia Zoospore 16 Hsiao 1970
Dinophyceae
Alexandrium fundyense Temporary cyst <5 Dale 1977; Anderson
(=Gonyaulax excavata) and Wall 1978
Alexandrium tamarense Sexual stages minimum Anderson et al. 1983
(=Gonyaulax tamarensis) 10- 12
Hypnozygote 22 Anderson 1980
Cyst 21 Anderson et al. 1984
Gymnodinium Gametes 15 von Stosch 1973
pseudopalustre
Gyrodinium uncatenum Cyst 23- 27 Anderson et al.
1985
Peridinium cinctum Cyst 6 or 22 Grigorszky et al. 2006
Chrysophyceae
Dinobryon cylindricum Statospore < 20 Sandgren 1986
(with 2 nuclei)
Dinobryon divergens Statospore 12- 17 Ruttner 1930;
Sheath et al. 1975
Synura petersenii Statospore < 20 Sandgren and
Flanagin 1986
Raphidophyceae
Gonyostomum semen Resting cyst < 10 Cronberg 2005
Nutrients
Nutrient depletion
Induction of reproduction in many algae by nutrient limitation appears to be the result of reduction in cell division and cessation of growth. Culture media free or depleted of nitrogen, phosphorus or both, or of silicon, iron, sulfate or calcium induced akinete formation, sexuality or encystment (to tolerate nutrient shortage) in some algae (Table 6). An increase in cell density led to nutrient depletion and which was the most likely cause for cyst formation in dinoflagellates. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii formed gametes (to form zygotes) in response to nitrogen depletion (Table 6) but gametes can dedifferentiate to vegetative state by any nitrogen compounds which cells can use for growth. Silicon depletion induced resting spore formation in Eunotia soleirolli (Table 6). Nitrogen- fixing blue- green algae required two orders of magnitude more iron (because iron is a component of nitrogenase enzyme complex) than non- diazotrophic organisms (Raven 1988) and iron limitation induced akinete formation in Anabaena cylindrica (Table 6).
Table 6 Nutrients deficiency induced initiation of reproduction in some algae
Alga or flora Structure/ Inducing factor Reference
process induced
A. Nitrogen limitation or minimal medium inducing reproduction
Cyanophyceae
Anabaena circinalis Akinete Lack of sodium Fay et al. 1984
nitrate
Anabaena doliolum Akinete Starvation of Singh and
nitrate, nitrite, Srivastava 1968;
or ammonium Tyagi 1974;
(an increase in Rao et al. 1987;
C/ N ratio is linked Pandey and
with synthesis of Kashyap 1989
additional wall layers)
Anabaena sp. Akinete Minimal medium Räsänen et al. 2006
Anabaena torulosa Akinete Minimal medium Fernandes and
Thomas 1982
Calothrix sp. strain Hormogonium Absence of Herdman and
combined Rippka 1988;
nitrogen Damerval et al.
1991
Cylindrospermum sp. Akinete Nitrogen, Glade 1914
Nutrient depletion
Gloeotrichia echinulata Akinete Absence of Wyman and Fay
combined 1986
nitrogen
Nostoc punctiforme, Akinete Nitrogen Harder 1917;
Nostoc sp. deficiency Ahluwalia and
Kumar 1983
Chlorophyceae
Chlamydomonas Sexuality Nitrogen depletion Trainor 1958
chlamydogama
Chlamydomonas Gametogenesis Nitrogen, nutrient Bernstein and
eugametos deficiency; sodium Jahn 1955; Lorch
starvation 1972; Lorch and
Karlander 1973;
Tomson et al.
1985
Chlamydomonas Gametogenesis Nitrogen- free Nečas and
geitleri liquid medium Pavingerová 1980;
Nečas 1981, 1982
a, b; Nečas and
Tetik 1985; Sulek
1997
Chlamydomonas Homothallic Nitrogen starvation Van Den Ende
monoica sexual that did not limit et al. 1992; Van
reproduction, cell division Winkle-Swift
mating et al. 1998
competence
Chlamydomonas Gametogenesis Depletion of nitrate, Sager and Granick
reinhardtii ammonium, urea, 1954; Kates and
and glutamine Jones 1964; Martin
and Goodenough
1975; Wiese 1984;
Treier et al. 1989;
Weissig and Beck
1991, Matsuda
et al. 1992;
Goodenough et al.
2007
Chlamydomonas Gametogenesis, Lowering or Tsubo 1956;
sp. 24 sexuality withdrawal of Kates and Jones
nitrogen 1964
Chlorococcum Gametogenesis, Low levels of O’Kelley 1983,
echinozygotum Zygospore nitrate, ammonia, 1984
glutamine or urea
Closterium moniliferum Conjugation KNO3 < 1.3 mM Dubois-Tylski 1977
Closterium Pairing of Nitrogen Ichimura 1971;
peracerosum- conjugants, deficiency Kato et al. 1981; Strigosum zygote Akatsuka et al. littorale formation 2003
Coelastrum sp., Gametogenesis Nitrogen Trainor and Burg
C. microporum deficiency 1965 a; Trainor
1996
Cylindrocystis Sexuality, Nitrogen Pringsheim 1918;
brebissonii conjugation omission Biebel and
Chamberlain 1970
Dunaliella sp. Sexual Dilution with Lerche 1937
reproduction two parts of
distilled water
Golenkinia Sexuality Nitrogen or Ellis and Machlis
minutissima (phosphorus) 1968
depletion
Haematococcus Cyst Nitrogen Kakizono et al.
pluvialis deficiency 1992
Mesotaenium Gametogenesis, Nitrate Tiftickjian and
kramstai pairing depletion Rayburn 1986
Micrasterias Zygote Nitrogen Imaizumi and
thomasiana depletion Doida 1990
Mougeotia sp. Conjugation N- depletion, Stabenau and
(high light Säftel 1989
intensity,
aeration)
Netrium digitus Conjugation Nitrogen Biebel 1964,
omission 1973
Oedogonium Sexuality Nitrogen Hoffman 1960
borysienum limitation
Oedogonium Sexuality Nitrogen Gussewa 1931
capillare limitation
Oedogonium Sexual Low nitrate, Hill and Machlis
cardiacum stages mineral- deficient 1970; Coss and
medium Pickett- Heaps
1973; Hill 1980
Oedogonium Oogonia Nitrogen- Singh and
hatei formation deficient Chaudhary 1990
Chu- 10 medium
Pandorina morum Conjugation Lowering or Coleman 1958
omission of
nitrogen
Pandorina unicocca Sexuality, Nitrogen Coleman 1962;
strains 101- 104 zygote deficiency Rayburn 1974;
(sulfate Rayburn and
deficiency) Starr 1974
Pithophora Akinete Nitrogen Ernst 1908;
oedogonia deficiency John and
in Bold’s Anderson 1976;
basal medium O’Neal et al 1985
Platydorina caudata Gametogenesis Nitrogen Harris and Starr
deficiency 1969
Rhizoclonium Biflagellate Nitrogen Nienhuis 1974
riparium spores deficiency
Scenedesmus Gametogenesis Nitrogen Trainor 1963, 1980;
obliquus deficiency Trainor and Burg
(at 15˚C) 1965 a; Cain and
Trainor 1976
Spirogyra spp. Conjugation, Nitrogen Pessoney 1968;
zygote depletion Grote 1977;
formation (high C/ N Yamashita and
ratio) Sasaki 1979;
Simons et al. 1984
Spongiochloris Zoospore, Nitrogen McLean and Trainor
typica akinete deficiency 1965; McLean 1968
Ulva fasciata Gametogenesis Nitrogen depletion Mohsen et al. 1974
Zygnema Lateral Low nitrogen Pouličkova et al.
chalybeospermum conjugation concentrations 2007
Zygnematacean Conjugation Low nitrogen Van Den Hoek
species concentrations et al. 1995
Xanthophyceae
Ophiocytium mains Zoospores Nitrate- free Pecora and
medium Rhodes 1973
Bacillariophyceae
Chaetoceros Resting spore Nitrogen French and
diadema, formation deficiency Hargraves 1980,
C. didymus, 1985; Hollibaugh
C.sociale, et al. 1981;
C. teres Itakura et al.
1993
Detonula Resting spore Nitrogen Durbin 1978
confervacea formation limitation
Eunotia soleirolii Resting spore Nitrogen von Stosch and
formation deficiency Fecher 1979
(phosphorus,
silicon, iron
deficiency)
Leptocylindrus Resting spore, Nitrogen Davis et al. 1980;
danicus Sexuality limitation French and
Hargraves 1980,
1985
Stephanopyxis Resting spore Nitrogen Drebes 1966;
palmeriana, formation (or phosphorus) French and
S. turris deficiency Hargraves 1980
Thalassiosira Physiological Nitrogen Peters and
antarctica, resting stage exhaustion Thomas 1996
T. rotula
Thalassiosira Resting spore Nitrate- Durbin 1978;
nordenskioeldii formation depletion Sugie and Kuma
(iron depletion) 2008
(at 10˚C)
Rhodophyceae
Rhodothamniella Tetraspore Nitrogen Knaggs 1967
floridula formation deficiency
(=Rhodochorton
floridulum)
Dinophyceae
Alexandrium Sexuqlity, Nitrogen Turpin et al. 1978;
tamarense encystment (or phosphorus) Anderson et al.
(=Gonyaulax limitation, low 1984; Anderson
tamarensis) nutrient and Lindquist
concentration 1985
Ceratium furcoides Encystment Nitrogen Hickel 1988
(or phosphorus)
starvation
Crypthecodinium Sexual Nitrogen Tuttle and
cohnii reproduction, (or phosphorus) Loeblich 1975
cyst deficiency
Glenodinium Sexual Nitrogen Diwald 1938
lubiensiforme reproduction deficiency
Gonyaulax Sexuality Nitrogen- Walker and
monilata deprived medium Steidinger 1979
Gymnodinium Sexuality Nitrogen von Stosch 1973
pseudopalustre omission
Peridinium cinctum, Gametes Nitrogen Pfiester 1975, 1976,
P. gatunense, formation, deficient 1977; Pfiester and
P. volzii, hypnozygote medium Skvarla 1979;
P. willei formation, Chapman and
encystment Pfiester 1995;
Grigorszky et al.
2006
Scrippsiella Encystment Nitrogen Watanabe et al.
lachrymosa, (or phosphorus) 1982; Olli and
S. trochoidea limitation Anderson 2002
Woloszynskia Gametogenesis, Nitrogen von Stosch 1973
apiculata sexuality, (or phosphorus)
cyst limitation, lack of
major nutrients
Chrysophyceae
Dinobryon Asexual and Nitrogen stress Sandgren 1981
cylindricum sexual encystment
B. Phosphorus limitation initiated reproduction
Cyanophyceae
Anabaena Akinete Phosphorus Van Dok and
circinalis limitation Hart 1996
Anabaena Akinete Phosphorus Wolk 1965
cylindrica deficiency
Anabaena sp., Akinete Phosphate Kaushik et al. 1971;
A. doliolum starvation Reddy 1976;
Pandey and
Kashyap 1987
Anabaena Akinete Phosphorus Olli et al. 2005
lemmermannii limitation
Anabaena Akinete Phosphorus Fernandes and
torulosa deficiency Thomas 1982;
(addition of Sarma et al.
C and N) 2000, 2004
Aphanizomenon Akinete Phosphorus- Gentile and
flos-aquae free medium Maloney 1969
Cylindrospermum sp., Akinete Phosphate Glade 1914;
C. trichotosporum omission Wolk 1965;
Reddy 1976;
Lang 1980
Fischerella Akinete Phosphate Kaushik et al. 1971
muscicola starvation
Gloeotrichia Akinete Phosphorus Karlsson-
echinulata depletion Elfgren et al. 2003
Nodularia Akinete Phosphorus Pandey and
spumigena depletion Talpasayi 1980
Nostoc Akinete Phosphorus Wong and
punctiforme limitation Meeks 2002;
(P is needed Meeks et al. 2002;
for ATP Argueta and
synthesis) Summers 2005
Nostoc sp. Akinete Phosphorus and Innok et al. 2009
VICCR1- 1 (iron) omission
Chlorophyceae
Stigeoclonium sp. Akinete Phosphorus Martin and
strain limitation Whitton 1987
Bacillariophyceae
Aulacoseira Sporulation Decline in Jewson et al. 2008
skvortzowii phosphate
(< 15- 20 µg/L)
Dinophyceae
Alexandrium Encystment Phosphorus Figueroa et al. 2005
catenella deficiency
Alexandrium Encystment Low P/ N ratio Figueroa et al. 2011
minutum
Gloeodinium Gametogenesis Phosphorus Kelley and
montanum limitation Pfiester 1990
Gymnodinium Gametogenesis Phosphorus Blackburn et al.
catenatum limitation 1989
C. Depletion of both nitrogen and phosphorus initiated reproduction
Xanthophyceae
Vaucheria Sexuality N and P limitation Aberg and Fries
dichotoma 1976
Dinophyceae
Peridinium Encystment N and P limitation Sako et al. 1984
cunningtonii
Gymnodinium Encystment N and P limitation Figueroa et al. 2006
catenatum
Gyrodinium Encystment N and P limitation Anderson et al. 1985
uncatenum
D. Depletion of nutrients other than N and P initiated reproduction
Cyanophyceae
Anabaena Akinete Depletion of Sinclair and
cylindrica iron Whitton 1977
Aphanizomenon Akinete Depletion of Sukenik et al.
ovalisporum potassium 2009
Westiellopsis Akinete Depletion of Agrawal and
prolifica calcium, boron, Sharma 1994
micronutrients
Chlorophyceae
Halimeda sp. Sporulation Iron deficiency Tullock 1997
Bacillariophyceae
Skeletonema Auxospore Silicon depletion Davis et al. 1973
costatum
Thalassiosira Resting spore Iron depletion Sugie and Kuma
nordenskioeldii (at 5˚C) 2008
Dinophyceae
Alexandrium Gametes Iron limitation Doucette et al.
tamarense 1989
Requirement of inorganic substances and nutrients
Inorganic carbon compounds like carbon dioxide, bicarbonate or carbonate are usual source of carbon to algae and favored reproduction in many algae (Table 7). When carbon dioxide concentration is increased in the air over the culture media, a number of freshwater green algae becomes reproductive, e.g. Oedogonium spp. formed zoospores; Cosmarium, Closterium, Micrasterias and Staurestrum performed conjugation; Stigeoclonium turned reproductive; and Volvox formed gonidia (Table 7). This is believed to be a nutritive (and not pH) effect. Bicarbonate or carbonate has also been reported to induce akinete formation in Anabaena torulosa and Nodularia spumigena (Table 7). Of course, given the fundamental importance of the relative amounts of C, N, and P (i. e. the Redfield ratio), enrichment of carbon can potentially be perceived as a limitation of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Presence of sufficient nitrate, phosphate or both induced reproduction in many algae (Table 7) and this may be because of sufficient algal growth requirement. Calcium, magnesium, sulfate and iron are needed for algal reproduction (Table 7) because of their specific role. Formation of akinetes in cultures of Anabaena cylindrica containing low concentrations of inorganic phosphate exhibited calcium2+ dependency (Wolk 1965). Sodium was needed for sexuality in diatoms Cyclotella, Coscinodiscus and Licmophora (Table 7). Although importance of boron and iodine in nature remains to be demonstrated, boron in limited levels was required for reproduction in Dictyota dichotoma and embryo development in Fucus edentatus. Iodine was implicated in growth and reproduction of Ectocarpus siliculosus and Petalonia fascia (Table 7).
5> |