Botryococcus

Botryococcus is a genus of green algae. The cells form an irregularly shaped aggregate. Thin filaments connect the cells. The cell body is ovoid, 6 to 10 μm long, and 3 to 6 μm wide. Fossils of the genus are known since Precambrian times, and form the single largest biological contributor to crude oil, and are a major component of oil shales.[2]

Botryococcus
Temporal range: Precambrian - Recent >
Botryococcus braunii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Trebouxiophyceae
Order: Trebouxiales
Family: Botryococcaceae
Genus: Botryococcus
Kützing, 1849
Type species
Botryococcus braunii
Species[1]

See text

Taxonomy

The genus and its holotype were described in 1849 by Friedrich Traugott Kützing.[3]

Description

Appears as colonies of cells irregularly arranges cells in a folded mucilage. Cells spherical or oval, chloroplast net-like with a single pyrenoid.[4]

Ecology

The algae is frequently found in plankton in waters with differing characteristics and a wide geographic distribution. It is an important component of algal blooms and the discoloration of water.[5] It is known to reproduce asexually but zoospores and sexual reproduction are unknown.[1]

Species

There are 13 accepted species in the genus.[1]

  • Botryococcus australis J.Komárek & P.Marvan 1992
  • Botryococcus balkachicus Zalessky
  • Botryococcus braunii Kützing 1849
  • Botryococcus calcareus West 1892
  • Botryococcus canadensis F.Hindák 1991
  • Botryococcus comperei J.Komárek & P.Marvan 1992
  • Botryococcus fernandoi J.Komárek & P.Marvan 1992
  • Botryococcus neglectus (West & G.S.West) J.Komárek & P.Marvan 1992
  • Botryococcus pila J.Komárek & P.Marvan 1992
  • Botryococcus protuberans West & G.S.West 1905
  • Botryococcus pusillus Goor 1924
  • Botryococcus terribilis Komárek & Marvan 1992
  • Botryococcus terricola Klebs 1883

References
  1. Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (20 December 2011). "Genus: Botryococcus taxonomy browser". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  2. Tennant, Richard K.; Lux, Thomas M.; Sambles, Christine M.; Kuhn, Nikolaus J.; Petticrew, Ellen L.; Oldfield, Richard; Parker, David A.; Hatton, Jackie; Moore, Karen A.; Lee, Rob; Turney, Chris S. M. (2019-02-11). "Palaeogenomics of the Hydrocarbon Producing Microalga Botryococcus braunii". Scientific Reports. 9 (1): 1776. Bibcode:2019NatSR...9.1776T. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-38236-5. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 6370823. PMID 30742038.
  3. Kützing, Friedrich Traugott (1849). Species Algarum. Brockhaus. p. 892.
  4. Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F. and McCarthy, T.K (Ed) 2007. New Survey of Clare Island Volume 6: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. Royal Irish Academy. ISBN<978-1-904890-31-7
  5. Fanés Treviño, Ingrid; Sánchez Castillo, Pedro; Comas González, Augusto (2009). "Contribution to the taxonomic study of the family Botryococcaceae (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) in southern Spain" (PDF). Cryptogamie, Algologie. 30: 17–30. Retrieved 12 September 2023.


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