A large testate protist, Gromia sphaerica sp.nov. (Order Filosea), from the bathyal Arabian Sea

Gooday, A.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5661-7371; Bowser, S.S.; Bett, B.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4977-9361; Smith, C.R.. 2000 A large testate protist, Gromia sphaerica sp.nov. (Order Filosea), from the bathyal Arabian Sea. Deep-Sea Research II, 47 (1/2). 55-73. 10.1016/S0967-0645(99)00100-9

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0967-0645(99)00100-9

Abstract/Summary

The deep ocean provides a habitat for several large testate protistan taxa, e.g., xenophyophores and komokiaceans. However, testate amoebae (orders Lobosea and Filosea) have never been reliably reported from below 270 m depth. Here we describe large spherical protists, up to almost 40 mm diameter, recovered in box core, multicore, and epibenthic sledge samples taken on the continental slope off Oman (NW Arabian Sea) during RRS Discovery Cruise 211. Specimens consist of an organic envelope, with numerous tiny apertures, enclosing a mass of fine waste pellets (stercomata). On the basis of its wall ultrastructure (revealed by high-voltage transmission electron microscopy), this organism is identified as a member of the filosean genus Gromia. It is described herein as Gromia sphaerica sp. nov. The wall is layered and includes the ‘honeycomb membrane', a structure that is unique to this genus. The new species is the first gromiid to be reported from the deep sea. It lives between about 1200 and 1630 m below the main oxygen minimum zone, in an area where bottom-water oxygen concentrations are around 0.47 ml l−1. The new gromiid species is clearly visible in bottom photographs taken at 1273 m (2.7 individuals m−2), 1318 m (2.7 indiv. m−2), 1624 m (17.3 indiv. m−2) and 1633 m (76.5 indiv. m−2). They lie partly embedded in the seafloor and are sometimes grouped in twos and threes. Specimens are typically surrounded by an apron of lighter-coloured sediment, possibly resulting from their feeding activities. Where they lie in very close proximity, the apron around one specimen typically obscures adjacent tests.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/S0967-0645(99)00100-9
Additional Keywords:	PROTISTS, ARABIAN SEA, OMAN MARGIN, "DISCOVERY", OXYGEN MINIMUM ZONE,
Date made live:	25 Aug 2004 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/108782

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/S0967-0645(99)00100-9

Additional Keywords:

PROTISTS, ARABIAN SEA, OMAN MARGIN, "DISCOVERY", OXYGEN MINIMUM ZONE,

Date made live:

25 Aug 2004 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/108782