Electron microscopical observations on a very small flagellate: the problem of Chromulina pusilla Butcher

Abstract

The marine plankton flagellate hitherto known as Chromulina pusilla Butcher is one of the smallest of algal cells, being of bacterial dimensions (1–1.5µ, Butcher, 1952). For this reason it had seemed of interest to investigate its structure with the electron microscope as part of a general programme on ciliated cells in plants which has been in progress for some years. It soon became apparent, however, that there were more points of importance than had been expected at the outset. In particular the anatomical findings showed that the formal taxonomic description based on the light microscope was not only incomplete (an unavoidable consequence of the very small size), but that, as a further consequence of these physical limitations, it contained some rather fundamental misconceptions regarding the taxonomic position of the organism. By the kindness of correspondents and collaborators it was fortunately possible at once to follow up the anatomical evidence biochemically, and the combined data make the conclusion unavoidable that this organism is not a member of the Chrysophyceae (to which group the genus Chromulina properly belongs) but that its affinities lie in or near the Chlorophyceae. This naturally raises some difficult nomenclatural questions which cannot all be immediately resolved. The anatomical facts for this particular species are not, however, in themselves dependent on nomenclature, and since this organism is not merely an electron microscopical curiosity but is also exceedingly abundant in coastal waters near the British Isles, it is perhaps of some value to students of plankton that they should be made available.