Home / Prymnesiophyceae / Pavlova
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Name derivation:
Classification:
Isochrysis Parke 1949; 3 of 5 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Order Isochrysidales; Family Isochrysidaceae
Morphology:
Spherical biflagellate unicells, ~5 µm diameter, with one or two chloroplasts. At least one species is covered with up to four layers of organic scales (visible only with electron microscopy) (Chunfeng et al. 2008).
Similar genera:
Pavlova
Habitat:
Marine plankton.
Commercial use:
Isochrysis is rich in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) valuable in aquaculture as food for rotifers that in turn are consumed by mollusks, shrimp and young fish.
References:
Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 30 April 2013. Liu, C., X Wu, and Y. Gao 2008. Comparison of two algae, and morphological observation of fine structure in Isochrysis galban Parke and Isochrysis zhanjiangensis sp.nov. Dalian Xueyuan Xuebao Shuichan 23(4):273-277. Parke, M. (1949). Studies on marine flagellates. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 28: 255-288.