The effects of algal density on growth of heterotrophic microflagellates
Citable URI
https://hdl.handle.net/1912/4320DOI
10.1575/1912/4320Keyword
FlagellataAbstract
The major role of heterotrophic nanoilagellates in the ocean
is generally thought to be as grazers of bacteria, but they may
also play an important role as grazers of photoautotrphs. The
goal of the present study was to understand the basic growth
kinetics of nanoilagellates feeding herbivorously. This was done
using batch cultures in quasi steady-state growth.
Growth (increase in biomass) can involve changes in both
cell numbers and cell size. Because fixed samples were examined,
it was necessary to quantiiy the effects of fixation on the cell
volume of heterotrophic protozoa before proceeding with the
growth studies. Fixation resulted in cell shrinkage, and the
degree of shrinkage varied with heterotrophic protozoan species
and with algal prey species. It was hypothesized that egestion
of food particles upon fixation was a major cause of shrinkage.
The growth rates of two heterotrophic nanoilagellates were
determined to be hyperbolic xunctions of algal prey densities
over a range of prey sizes. However, the specixic response of
the two species varied. Paraphysomonas imperiorata appeared to
respond primarily to prey cell numbers, and Strain HM-2
(unidentified species) responded most to available prey biomass
(expressed as carbon or nitrogen). Minimum prey biomass for
growth of both species ieeding herbivorously was within the
ranges reported for similar species feeding bactivorously. The
growth kinetics suggest that heterotrophic nanoilagellates are
adapted to heterogeneous distribution of prey within their
environment.
The result of this study strongly suggests that previous
studies of heterotrophic nanoilagellates based on the
examination of fixed samples may have severely underestimated
the role of theses taxa as herbivores. Herbivory by
heterotrophic nanoilagellates may be much more important than
previously thought.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution September 1988
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Suggested Citation
Thesis: Choi, Joon Won, "The effects of algal density on growth of heterotrophic microflagellates", 1988-09, DOI:10.1575/1912/4320, https://hdl.handle.net/1912/4320Related items
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