New records of marine choanoflagellates of the Chilean coast

This is the first report of planktonic choanoflagellates from the Chilean coast, relating their abundance with that of bacteria and viruses. Surface water samples were taken off Antofagasta, Montemar, and Puerto Montt and samples from ballast tanks were also analyzed. The choanoflagellates were identified following morphological type descriptions. Viruses and bacteria were stained with SYBR Green and choanoflagellates, bacteria, and viruses were counted simultaneously using red autofluorescence for the former and green fluorescence for the latter two. Six species of Acanthoecidae were observed for the first time in Chilean waters: Calliacantha multispina (0.3-103 L-1), Acanthocorbis apoda, Stephanoeca diplocostata (2.0-103 L-1), Crinolina isefiordensis, Parvicorbicula superpositus, and Pleurasiga minima (5.0-103 L-1). The concentrations of bacteria (1.1-106-4.5-10 6) and viral-like particles (VLPs) (7.9-10 6-21-10 6) agreed with those typically found in marine coastal waters. In addition, Acanthocorbis asymmetrica was found in ballast waters, where its high concentration (20-103 L-1) likely resulted from the particular physical and biological environment therein.Original Abstract: Este es el primer reporte sobre coanoflagelados planctonicos de la costa chilena y su abundancia se relaciono con la de bacterias y virus. Se analizaron muestras de aguas superficiales obtenidas en Antofagasta, Montemar y Puerto Montt. Ademas se analizaron muestras adicionales de aguas provenientes de estanques de lastre. Los coanoflagelados se determinaron de acuerdo a descripciones morfologicas tipo. Virus y bacterias fueron tenidos con SYBR Green y la enumeracion simultanea de coanoflagelados, bacterias y virus se determino a traves de autofluorescencia roja y fluorescencia verde respectivamente. Seis especies de Acanthoecidae fueron observadas por primera vez en aguas chilenas: Calliacantha multispina (0,3-103 L-1), Acanthocorbis apoda y Stephanoeca diplocostata (2,0-103 L-1), Crinolina isefiordensis, Parvicorbicula superpositus y Pleurasiga minima (5.0 - 103 L-1). Las concentraciones de bacteria (1,1-106- 4.5-10 6) y virus (7,9-10 6 - 21-10 6) son las tipicamente descritas para aguas marinas costeras. En aguas de lastre se encontro Acanthocorbis asymmetrica cuya alta concentracion (20-103 L-1) debiera ser consecuencia de este particular ambiente fisico y biologico.