Coccolithophore
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{{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 — 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§ionnav=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 — Biodiversity of Open Ocean Microcalcifiers]
*[http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/ina/ INA — International Nannoplankton Association]
*[http://nannotax.org/ Nannotax] - illustrated guide to Neogene coccolithophores and other nannofossils.
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Haptophytes]]
[[Category:Fossils]]
[[Category:Microbiology]]
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