Taxonomy, life cycle, distribution and dasmotrophy of Chrysochromulina: a theory accounting for scales, haptonema, muciferous bodies and toxicity

This article reviews exlsting literature on the known Chrysochromulina species, and describes work that has been conducted on the life cycle and taxonomic affinities of these nanoplanktonic protists. In light of this information, we propose functions for the scales, muciferous bodles, and haptonema, and their relationship to toxicity, presenting a theory of auxotrophy following induced osmosis ('dasmotrophy') by cooperative assemblages of Chrysochromulina species. Dasmotrophy (from Greek baopou, taxation) is a form of remote parasitism. Prey organisms are compelled to return a small fraction of their contained nutrients to the environment through transient leaks in cell membranes caused by extracellular chemicals produced by Chrysochromulina. Successful dasmotrophy requires corresponding behav~our on the part of the organism, expressed as a characteristic life style and well exemplified by Chrysochromulina.