Distribution and seasonal dynamics of cryptomonads in sicilian water bodies

摘要

Several species with a relevant ecological importance belong to cryptophyta.Newertheless,species-level identification from microscopic observvations is problmeatic,lacking recent taxonomic keys.In this study we report our observations on distribution and seasonal dynamics of cryptomonads in 33 Sicilian water bodies,as well as the main taxonomical problems we encountered.SDpecies of hte genera Cryptomonas and Plagioselmis are the most common in te examined water bodies.Their biomass seasonal trands usualy show a peak in late winter and early spring.In advanced spring,and also in summer,due to the higher grazing pressure,the Cryptomonads biomass reaches its lowest values.Moreovr,in a small,eutrophic,temporary pond (Santa rosalia),without grazing pressure in spring,the Cryptomonads bloomed in summer.From our results,we propose to focus the attention on hte sensitiveness of these organisms to filter feeding to explain their seasonal dynamics.