Aureococcus anophagefferens is a 2-3 um spherical, non-motile pelagophyte which has caused destructive 'brown tide' blooms in northeast and mid-Atlantic US estuaries for two decades. A coastal microalgae species, A. anophagefferens is capable of growing to extremely high densities (> 10E9 cells L-1) and can enzymatically degrade complex forms of dissolved organic matter as a source of cellular carbon and nitrogen. This species is also known to be well adapted to low light, is associated with annually elevated water temperatures, can rapidly reduce trace metals, and sequesters substantial amounts of carbon during bloom events.

Further reading:

Niche of harmful alga Aureococcus anophagefferens revealed through ecogenomics. PNAS. 108(11), 4352-7 (2011). [pubmed]