Parmales: taxonomy and role in the Antarctic marine ecosystem

Project aim

Parmales are a group of marine microalgae that occur principally in polar waters at a concentration of ~105 cells litre-1. They are constituents of marine snow, components of the diet of grazers, including krill, and contribute substantially to biogenic silica in sediments. They have been hypothesized as being related to diatoms. However, despite heroic attempts they have not been cultured and as a consequence their lifecycle, pigmentation and phylogenetic affinities remain unknown. This project aims to concentrate sufficient Parmales to enable their pigmentation to be ascertained and molecular biology undertaken to reveal their phylogenetic affinities.