Petalomonas sphagnophila (Euglenophyta) and its endocytobiotic cyanobacteria: a unique form of symbiosis

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Abstract
Petalomonas sphagnophila is a colourless euglenoid flagellate that occurs in the floating Sphagnum mats of quagmires. Records of the occurrence of this organism are rare and information on its ecology and cytology is therefore scarce. During this study P. sphagnophila was observed in various acidic lakes and the cells were always observed to contain Synechocystis-like cyanobacteria. Each of these cyanobacterial cells was contained within an individual perialgal vacuole and remained alive for several weeks or longer, as revealed by chlorophyll and phycobilin fluorescence. Dividing cyanobacteria were observed occasionally, and cyanobacteria that were being either digested or degraded were frequent. The association between P. sphagnophila and these cyanobacteria appears to be a unique, transient, relatively undeveloped form of endosymbiosis.

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