Newly Discovered Group of Algae Live in Both Fresh Water and Ocean
Date: 28.1.2011
A team of biologists has discovered an entirely new group of algae living in a wide variety of marine and freshwater environments. This group of algae, which the researchers dubbed "rappemonads," have DNA that is distinctly different from that of other known algae. In fact, humans and mushrooms are more closely related to each other than rappemonads are to some other common algae (such as green algae). Based on their DNA analysis, the researchers believe that they have discovered not just a new species or genus, but a potentially large and novel group of microorganisms.
The rappemonads were found in a wide range of habitats, in both fresh and salt water, and at temperatures ranging from 52 degrees to 79 degrees Fahrenheit.
Source:
Original Paper:
E. Kim, J. W. Harrison, S. Sudek, M. D. M. Jones, H. M. Wilcox, T. A. Richards, A. Z. Worden, J. M. Archibald. Newly identified and diverse plastid-bearing branch on the eukaryotic tree of life. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2011; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1013337108
