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AME 31:183-192 (2003)
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Abstract
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Effects of turbulence on the feeding and growth of a marine oligotrich ciliate
John R. Dolan1,*, Noura Sall1, Aisling Metcalfe2, Beat Gasser1
1Marine Microbial Ecology Group, LOV, CNRS UMR 7093, BP 28, Station Zoologique, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
2Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW, United Kingdom
*Email: dolan@obs-vlfr.fr
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ABSTRACT: We investigated the effects of turbulence, using an oscillating grid apparatus, on growth and ingestion in Strombidium sulcatum feeding on picoplankton-sized prey. In batch cultures of ciliates feeding on bacteria, subjected to 4 levels
of turbulence ranging from e = 0.005 to 2.0 cm2 s-3 or still water, we found a negative effect of turbulence on growth rate. Examination of turbulence-incubated cells showed no evidence of arrested cell
division, known in some dinoflagellate species. Ingestion rates, measured using fluorescent microspheres, were lower under turbulent conditions. A prey selection experiment with microspheres of different surface qualities showed similar, previously
established, patterns of selective ingestion but at lower rates under turbulent conditions. In ciliate cultures subjected to turbulence intermittently for 5 d (24 h on, 24 h off), population declines were followed by increases. We discuss a model of the
effects of turbulence on predator-prey contact rates and suggest that our data reflect behavioral changes under turbulent conditions, which results in lower ingestion rates leading to lower growth rates.
KEY WORDS: Microzooplankton · Grazing · Behavior · Plankton
Full text in pdf format
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Published in AME Vol.
31, No. 2
(2003) on March 13
Print ISSN: 0948-3055; Online ISSN: 1616-1564.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003
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