Feeding by the Newly Described, Nematocyst-Bearing Heterotrophic Dinoflagellate Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense
We explored the feeding ecology of the newly described, nematocyst‐bearing heterotrophic dinoflagellate Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense (GenBank accession number=FR720082). Using several different types of microscopes and high‐resolution video‐microscopy, we investigated feeding behavior and types of prey...
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Published in | The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology Vol. 58; no. 6; pp. 511 - 524 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Malden, USA
Blackwell Publishing Inc
01.11.2011
Wiley |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | We explored the feeding ecology of the newly described, nematocyst‐bearing heterotrophic dinoflagellate Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense (GenBank accession number=FR720082). Using several different types of microscopes and high‐resolution video‐microscopy, we investigated feeding behavior and types of prey species that G. shiwhaense feeds upon. Additionally, we measured its growth and ingestion rates on its optimal algal prey, the cryptophyte Teleaulax sp. and the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae, as a function of prey concentration. These rates were measured for other edible prey at single prey concentrations at which the growth and ingestion rates of G. shiwhaense were saturated. After anchoring the prey with a tow filament, G. shiwhaense fed using a peduncle, ingesting small algal species with equivalent spherical diameters (ESDs) of <13 μm. However, it did not feed on larger algal species that had ESDs≥13 μm or the small diatom Skeletonema costatum. The specific growth rates for G. shiwhaense feeding upon Teleaulax sp. and A. carterae increased rapidly with increasing mean prey concentration before saturating at concentrations of ca. 180–430 ng C/ml. The maximum specific growth rate of G. shiwhaense on Teleaulax sp. and A. carterae were 1.05 and 0.82/d, respectively. However, Heterosigma akashiwo did not support positive growth of G. shiwhaense. The maximum ingestion rates of G. shiwhaense on Teleaulax sp. and A. carterae were 0.35 and 0.54 ng C/grazer/d, respectively. The calculated grazing coefficients attributable to G. shiwhaense on co‐occurring cryptophytes and Amphidinium spp. were 0.01–1.87/d and 0.08–2.60/d, respectively. Our results suggest that G. shiwhaense can have a considerable grazing impact on algal populations. |
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Bibliography: | istex:BF41CFD2C683FDCE2C277880594A0BD430F3D52E Supporting info itemSupporting info itemSupporting info item ark:/67375/WNG-JZVZ1CNJ-7 ArticleID:JEU580 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 1066-5234 1550-7408 |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2011.00580.x |