The Characterization of a Novel Heterotrophic Nanoflagellate Isolated from the Coastal Waters of North Carolina

Heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNANs) (2-20µm) play fundamental roles in the marine microbial food web in the energy transfer and the cycling of nutrients. They are both primary consumers of bacteria and picoplankton and are, in turn, consumed by zooplankton. We introduce a newly described bicosoecid HNAN genus and species, isolated from the North Carolina coastline. Utilizing both molecular (18s) and morphological techniques (light and electron microscopy) placed the organism closest to the genus Bicosoeca within the order of the Bicosoecida. The HNAN ingested prey including heterotrophic bacteria and picophytoplankton under various abundances and temperatures. The HNAN achieved an average growth rate of 0.07 h^-1 and grazing rate of 0.08 h^-1 under heterotrophic bacterial abundances of 10⁶. Here we discuss its taxonomic placement, behavioral features, growth and grazing ecology.