Abstract / Summary
Psychrophilic dinoflagellates are a group of microalgae that, together with psychrophilic diatoms, contribute to the functioning of cold-water ecosystems. One of the important species in these ecosystems is Peridiniella catenata, which is capable of developing both in under-ice waters and within sea ice. The species has been reported from northern marine waters ranging from the Baltic Sea to the coast of Canada. In the present study, we provide the first 18S and ITS2 rDNA sequences for this species and clarify its phylogenetic position based on three ribosomal markers (18S, ITS2, and 28S rDNA). We confirm the ability of P. catenata to develop under very low-salinity conditions. An extensive search for P. catenata-like sequences in DNA metabarcoding datasets indicates a broad distribution of closely related Peridiniella taxa. In particular, our results suggest that P. catenata or a closely related Peridiniella species may occur not only in the Northern Hemisphere but also in Antarctic waters.