THE LIFE CYCLE OF COCCOLITHUS PELAGICUS
Ian Probert, Aude Houdan, Chantal Billard & others
Laboratoire de Biologie et Biotechnologies Marines, Universite de Caen Basse Normandie, Caen, France
Summary: The diploid/haploid life cycle of Coccolithis pelagicus/Crystallolithus hyalinus has been confirmed by flow cytometry, the first proof that heterococcolith/holococcolith life cycles involve sexual reproduction. The processes involved in phase changes (meiosis/syngamy) are reported. Experimental evidence relating to the potential effects of nutrients, light and temperature on triggering phase changes is presented, and a hypothetical model put forward.
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