Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Factors contributing to the potential expansion of Limnomonas gaiensis (Chlamydomonadales, Chlorophyta) in freshwater lakes in Northern Europe

Sildever, Sirje ; Stewart, Rebecca I.A. LU and Tesson, Sylvie V.M. LU (2023) In European Journal of Phycology
Abstract
Limnomonas gaiensis is a recently described green microalga inhabiting freshwater lakes in northern Europe (England, Sweden). There is little information on the species’ tolerance to environmental factors and its capacity to spread to unconnected lakes. Using a barcoding approach, we investigated the phylogeography of L. gaiensis along a latitudinal gradient spanning 54–60°N. Experimental long-term exposure to a gradient of water temperatures, mimicking natural conditions, was performed to assess its thermal tolerance. Genetic analyses showed that this limnic species is easily identified at the species level. Phylogeographic analyses revealed the existence of two genetically similar haplotypes over the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase... (More)
Limnomonas gaiensis is a recently described green microalga inhabiting freshwater lakes in northern Europe (England, Sweden). There is little information on the species’ tolerance to environmental factors and its capacity to spread to unconnected lakes. Using a barcoding approach, we investigated the phylogeography of L. gaiensis along a latitudinal gradient spanning 54–60°N. Experimental long-term exposure to a gradient of water temperatures, mimicking natural conditions, was performed to assess its thermal tolerance. Genetic analyses showed that this limnic species is easily identified at the species level. Phylogeographic analyses revealed the existence of two genetically similar haplotypes over the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 gene in different countries, suggesting that the range of L. gaiensis has recently expanded from a common source lineage, despite geographic isolation. Heterogeneity in the Helix III of the nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 region of the English strain suggested past hybridization. Physiological analyses showed that L. gaiensis can survive and reproduce asexually, potentially year-round. Optimal growth was observed at 15°C, with a doubling time of 1.1 days. The species is able to survive short periods of desiccation. The lack of connectivity between the lakes where the species was sampled rules out aquatic dispersal of this species. However, its physiological features make L. gaiensis a good candidate for propagule dispersal by either wind or human/animal-mediated transportation. Our study calls for further investigation into limnic systems, using rapid barcoding, with concurrent atmospheric and physiological analyses to establish its distribution over wider geographic scales and to understand how L. gaiensis disperses. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
in
European Journal of Phycology
pages
15 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85179992485
ISSN
1469-4433
DOI
10.1080/09670262.2023.2274080
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
e4b5305d-4ac6-4284-8111-f559d245269d
date added to LUP
2024-03-21 14:55:52
date last changed
2024-03-28 09:53:36
@article{e4b5305d-4ac6-4284-8111-f559d245269d,
  abstract     = {{Limnomonas gaiensis is a recently described green microalga inhabiting freshwater lakes in northern Europe (England, Sweden). There is little information on the species’ tolerance to environmental factors and its capacity to spread to unconnected lakes. Using a barcoding approach, we investigated the phylogeography of L. gaiensis along a latitudinal gradient spanning 54–60°N. Experimental long-term exposure to a gradient of water temperatures, mimicking natural conditions, was performed to assess its thermal tolerance. Genetic analyses showed that this limnic species is easily identified at the species level. Phylogeographic analyses revealed the existence of two genetically similar haplotypes over the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 gene in different countries, suggesting that the range of L. gaiensis has recently expanded from a common source lineage, despite geographic isolation. Heterogeneity in the Helix III of the nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 region of the English strain suggested past hybridization. Physiological analyses showed that L. gaiensis can survive and reproduce asexually, potentially year-round. Optimal growth was observed at 15°C, with a doubling time of 1.1 days. The species is able to survive short periods of desiccation. The lack of connectivity between the lakes where the species was sampled rules out aquatic dispersal of this species. However, its physiological features make L. gaiensis a good candidate for propagule dispersal by either wind or human/animal-mediated transportation. Our study calls for further investigation into limnic systems, using rapid barcoding, with concurrent atmospheric and physiological analyses to establish its distribution over wider geographic scales and to understand how L. gaiensis disperses.}},
  author       = {{Sildever, Sirje and Stewart, Rebecca I.A. and Tesson, Sylvie V.M.}},
  issn         = {{1469-4433}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Phycology}},
  title        = {{Factors contributing to the potential expansion of Limnomonas gaiensis (Chlamydomonadales, Chlorophyta) in freshwater lakes in Northern Europe}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09670262.2023.2274080}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09670262.2023.2274080}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}