Differences in the chemical composition of organic‐walled dinoflagellate resting cysts from phototrophic and heterotrophic dinoflagellates

• DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12170
• Publication Date: 2014-01-30T12:34:55Z
• Authors: Kara Bogus; Kenneth Neil Mertens; Johan Lauwaert; Ian C. Harding; Henk Vrielinck; Karin A. F. Zonne...; Gerard J. M. Vers...
• Keywords: Dinoflagellate; Dinocyst; Dinophyceae; Autotroph

Dinoflagellates constitute a large proportion of the planktonic biomass from marine to freshwater environments. Some species produce preservable organic-walled resting cyst (dinocyst) during sexual phase their life cycle that is an important link between organisms, environment in which parent motile theca grew, and sedimentary record. Despite abundance widespread usage as proxy indicators for environmental conditions, there lack knowledge regarding dinocyst wall chemical composition. It likely numerous factors, including phylogeny strategy, determine chemistry. However, extent this composition varies based on inherent (phylogenetic) or variable (ecological) factors has not been studied. To address this, we used micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyze nine produced by either phototrophic heterotrophic dinoflagellates extant orders Gonyaulacales, Gymnodiniales, Peridiniales. Based presence characteristic functional groups, two significantly different compositions are observed correspond dinoflagellate's nutritional strategy. The analyzed appeared carbohydrate-based, but suggested cellulose-like glucan, while forms nitrogen-rich glycan. This constitutes first empirical evidence strategy related chemistries. Our results indicated was less predicting than dinoflagellate, suggesting potential chemistry infer past strategies extinct taxa preserved