Raphidocelis subcapitata

{{Short description|Species of alga}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Speciesbox | genus = Raphidocelis | species = subcapitata | authority = (Korshikov) Nygaard, Komárek, J.Kristiansen & O.M.Skulberg | synonyms = * ''Kirchneriella subcapitata'' <small>Korshikov</small> * ''Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata'' <small>(Korshikov) Hindák</small> }}

'''''Raphidocelis subcapitata''''', formerly known as ''Selenastrum capricornutum'' and ''Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata'' is a microalga.<ref>M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 2 May 2013.</ref> This microalga presents a curved and twisted appearance like a sickle. The cells are normally presented in a solitary form in culture, although it may also be present in small colonies. It has a length between 7 and 15 μm, and a width between 1.2 and 3 μm. A single chloroplast is present, filling nearly the entire cell; it lacks a pyrenoid.<ref name=Komarek_Fott>{{cite book | title= Chlorophyceae (Grünalgen), Ordnung Chlorococcales | last1=Komárek | first1=J. | last2=Fott | first2=B. | date=1983 | publisher= E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung | series=Das Phytoplankton des Süßwassers | language=German | pages=1044 }}</ref> It is commonly used as a bioindicator species to assess the levels of nutrients or toxic substances in fresh water environments. This species is quite sensitive to the presence of toxic substances including metals and has a ubiquitous distribution, so is broadly used in ecotoxicology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://silicasecchidisk.conncoll.edu/LucidKeys/Carolina_Key/html/Selenastrum_Main.html |title=Selenastrum |accessdate=2012-02-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212045621/http://silicasecchidisk.conncoll.edu/LucidKeys/Carolina_Key/html/Selenastrum_Main.html |archive-date=12 December 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | doi=10.1016/S1532-0456(02)00077-7 | pmid=12356528 | volume=133 | issue=1–2 | title=Biotic ligand model development predicting Zn toxicity to the alga ''Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata'': possibilities and limitations | journal=Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C | pages=207–218| date=September 2002 | last1=Heijerick | first1=D.G. | last2=De Schamphelaere | first2=K.A.C. | last3=Janssen | first3=C.R. }}</ref> This species has been found to be more competitive than ''Chlorella vulgaris'' at low sodium chloride concentrations, but ''C. vulgaris'' was more competitive under salt stress.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Venâncio|first1=C.|last2=Anselmo|first2=E.|last3=Soares|first3=A.|last4=Lopes|first4=I.|date=2017-02-01|title=Does increased salinity influence the competitive outcome of two producer species?|journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research|language=en|volume=24|issue=6|pages=5888–5897|doi=10.1007/s11356-016-8346-x|pmid=28064393|s2cid=26518865 |issn=0944-1344}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|reason=This needs a secondary source to confirm this|date=July 2018}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Sphaeropleales Category:Chlorophyta species