Synura is a genus of colonial chrysomonad algae covered with silica scales.[3] It is the most conspicuous genus of the order Synurales.[4]

Synura
A colony of Synura sp.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Stramenopiles
Phylum: Gyrista
Subphylum: Ochrophytina
Class: Chrysophyceae
Order: Synurales
Family: Synuraceae
Lemmermann, 1899 emend. B.Y. Jo, J.I. Kim, W. Shin, P.Škaloud & P. Siver, 2016[1]
Genus: Synura
Ehrenberg, 1834
Species

See text.

Synonyms[2]

Description

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Species of Synura form microscopic, spherical colonies, composed of multiple cells attached to each other at the center of the colony. Synura cells are variously shaped, typically spherical to pear-shaped or club-shaped. Each cell contains two plastids aligned with the long axis of the cell; they impart a distinctive golden color to the cells, which comes from chlorophyll c1 and fucoxanthin. Cells are covered with scales made of silica. Two flagella are present.[5]

Identification of species depends on the morphology of the scales. For many species, a positive identification is only possible with an electron microscope, either with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM).[5]

Classification

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Synura is the type and only genus in the family Synuraceae.[1] The present taxonomy recognizes five sections:[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bok Yeon Jo; Jong Im Kim; Pavel Škaloud; Peter A. Siver; Woongghi Shin (1 September 2016). "Multigene phylogeny of Synura (Synurophyceae) and descriptions of four new species based on morphological and DNA evidence". European Journal of Phycology. 51 (4): 413–430. doi:10.1080/09670262.2016.1201700. ISSN 0967-0262. Wikidata Q99647124.
  2. ^ Pusztai, Martin; Čertnerová, Dora; Škaloudová, Magda; Škaloud, Pavel (2016). "Elucidating the Phylogeny and Taxonomic Position of the genus Chrysodidymus Prowse (Chrysophyceae, Synurales)". Cryptogamie, Algologie. 37 (4): 297–307. doi:10.7872/crya/v37.iss4.2016.297. S2CID 51739744.
  3. ^ a b Škaloud, Pavel; Kristiansen, Jørgen; Škaloudová, Magda (July 2013). "Developments in the taxonomy of silica-scaled chrysophytes – from morphological and ultrastructural to molecular approaches". Nordic Journal of Botany. 31 (4) (published August 2013): 385–402. doi:10.1111/j.1756-1051.2013.00119.x.
  4. ^ a b Škaloud P, Škaloudová M, Procházková A, Němcová Y (2014). "Morphological delineation and distribution patterns of four newly described species within the Synura petersenii species complex (Chrysophyceae, Stramenopiles)". European Journal of Phycology. 49 (2): 213–229. Bibcode:2014EJPhy..49..213S. doi:10.1080/09670262.2014.905710. S2CID 51749551.
  5. ^ a b Siver, Peter A. (2014). "Chapter 14. Synurophyte Algae". In Wehr, John D.; Sheath, Robert G.; Kociolek, J. Patrick (eds.). Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (2 ed.). Elsevier Inc. ISBN 978-0-12-385876-4.