Coccolithophore 47520 223615324 2008-07-04T22:08:47Z Thijs!bot 1392310 robot Adding: [[nl:Coccolithoforen]] Removing: [[de:Coccolithophorida]], [[eo:Kokolito]] {{Taxobox | name = Coccolithaceae | image = Coccolithus pelagicus.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = The coccolithophore ''Coccolithus pelagicus''. | domain = [[Eukaryota]] | regnum = [[Chromalveolata]] | phylum = [[Haptophyte|Haptophyta]] | classis = Prymnesiophyceae | ordo = [[Isochrysidales]],<br>[[Coccolithales]] }} '''Coccolithophores''' (also called '''coccolithophorids''') are single-celled [[algae]], [[protist]]s and [[phytoplankton]] belonging to the [[division]] [[haptophyte]]s. They are distinguished by special [[calcium carbonate]] plates (or scales) of uncertain function called ''[[coccolith]]s'' (calcareous nannoplankton), which are important [[Micropaleontology|microfossils]]. Coccolithophores are almost exclusively [[Marine (ocean)|marine]] and are found in large numbers throughout the surface [[Photic zone|euphotic zone]] of the [[ocean]]. An example of a globally-significant coccolithophore is ''[[Emiliania huxleyi]]''. Due to their [[Microscopy|microscopic]] size and the broad distribution of many of their taxa, ''coccoliths'' have become very important as [[index fossil]]s for solving various [[stratigraphy|stratigraphic]] problems. Microfossils are sensitive indicators of changes in the temperature and [[salinity]] of the ocean and [[sea]] surface water. The quantitative analysis of [[Calcite|calcareous]] nannoplankton assemblages is being employed to reveal such changes. They also produce [[alkenones]], biomarkers of great utility in reconstructing ancient temperatures. Coccolithophores have long been thought to respond to increased ocean acidity, caused by increasing {{co2}} levels, by becoming less calcified. Scientists were recently surprised to learn that in fact the opposite can happen in at least some circumstances, with the model species ''[[E. huxleyi]]'' becoming 40% heavier, and more abundant, in more acidic waters.<ref name=Iglesias2008>{{cite journal|Science 18 April 2008: Vol. 320. no. 5874, pp. 336 - 340 |doi= 10.1126/science.1154122|title= Phytoplankton Calcification in a High-CO2 World M. Debora Iglesias-Rodriguez,1* Paul R. Halloran,2* Rosalind E. M. Rickaby,2 Ian R. Hall,3 Elena Colmenero-Hidalgo,3{dagger} John R. Gittins,1 Darryl R. H. Green,1 Toby Tyrrell,1 Samantha J. Gibbs,1 Peter von Dassow,4 Eric Rehm,5 E. Virginia Armbrust,5 Karin P. Boessenkool}}</ref> [[Isochrysidales]] of the genus ''Isochrysis'' are an important source of [[DHA]] in [[aquaculture]] industries. See ''[[Isochrysis galbana]]'' == See also == * [[CLAW hypothesis]] * [[Coccolithovirus|''Emiliania huxleyi'' virus 86]] * [[Ocean acidification]] * [[Phytoplankton]] * ''[[Pleurochrysis carterae]]'' == External links == *[http://bioinfo.csusm.edu Cocco Express&nbsp;&mdash; Coccolithophorids Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) & Microarray Database] *[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/index.html University of California, Berkeley. Museum of Paleontology: "Introduction to the Prymnesiophyta".] *[http://www.paleoportal.org/index.php?globalnav=fossil_gallery&sectionnav=taxon&taxon_id=104 The Paleontology Portal: Calcareous Nanoplankton] *[http://eobglossary.gsfc.nasa.gov/Library/Coccolithophores/ What is a Coccolithophore?] *[http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/soes/staff/tt/eh/ ''Emiliania huxleyi'' Home Page] *[http://www.sb-roscoff.fr/BOOM/ BOOM&nbsp;&mdash; Biodiversity of Open Ocean Microcalcifiers] *[http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/ina/ INA&nbsp;&mdash; International Nannoplankton Association] *[http://nannotax.org/ Nannotax] - illustrated guide to Neogene coccolithophores and other nannofossils. ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Haptophytes]] [[Category:Fossils]] [[Category:Microbiology]] [[es:Cocolitóforo]] [[fr:Coccolithophoridé]] [[nl:Coccolithoforen]] [[ja:円石藻]] [[pt:Cocolitóforo]] [[ru:Кокколитофориды]]