Gonium O.F. Müller, 1773
Lectotype species: Gonium pectorale O.F.Müller
Original publication: Müller, O.F. (1773). Vermium terrestrium et fluviatilium, seu animalium infusoriorum, helminthicorum et testaceorum, non marinorum, succincta historia. Vol. 1 pp. [1-33], 1-135. Copenhagen & Leipzig: Apud Heineck et Faber, typis M. Hallager.
Request PDFType designated in: Ehrenberg, C.G. (1838). Die Infusionsthierchen als vollkommene Organismen. Ein Blick in das tiefere organische Leben der Natur. pp. i-xviii, [1-4], 1-[548], 64 pls. Leipzig: Verlag von Leopold Voss.
Description: Colonies flattened, containing 4, 8, 16 or 32 cells arranged in one layer and oriented in the same direction. The 8-celled colony exhibits a characteristic cell arrangement for a given species. Cells ovoid to angular, each with two equal flagella, a stigma, two contractile vacuoles at the base of the flagella and a massive cup-shaped chloroplast with one or multiple pyrenoids. Each protoplast enclosed by a gelatinous sheath, and the cells attach or connect to one another by the union or attachment of these sheaths, forming a colony. Asexual reproduction by autocolony formation, each cell of the colony dividing successively to become a daughter colony. Sexual reproduction isogamous, forming walled aplanozygotes. Germinating zygotes produce four biflagellate gone cells either joined in a colony (germ colony) or released separately.
Information contributed by: H. Nozaki. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2010-05-13 by M.D. Guiry.
Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Pentecost, A. (2002). Order Volvocales. In: The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles. An identification guide to freshwater and terrestrial algae. (John, D.M., Whitton, B.A. & Brook, A.J. Eds), pp. 303-327. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Comments: Gonium is cosmopolitan in freshwater; G. pectorale is one of the most commonly encountered species of green algae. Although assigned to the Volvocaceae, a relationship of Gonium with Astrephomenaceae was proposed based on ultrastructure of various species. Sexual isolation within a taxonomic species was demonstrated in G. pectorale and G. viridistellatum. Requirements for carbon sources known for three spcies. for which growth was supported by acetate, pyruvate and DL-lactate. Contrasting to other volvocacean genera, Gonium is heterogeneous in embryogenesis, gametic union and zygote germination. Development of the flagellar apparatus was examined in G. pectorale colonies, and there was a differentiation between peripheral and central cells.
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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera,
organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA)
and intended to be published in CD format.
These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above.
The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.
Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.
Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43493
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 13 May 2010. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024
