Aquatic Microbial Ecology
AME is a hybrid research journal on all aspects of aquatic microbial dynamics, in particular viruses, prokaryotes and eukaryotes (planktonic and benthic, autotrophic and heterotrophic) in marine, freshwater and brackish habitats.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ame01598
copiedAssociations between Mesodinium rubrum and cryptophyte algae in the Columbia River estuary
- Tawnya D. Peterson
- Rachel L. Golda
- Michael L. Garcia
- Binglin Li
- Michelle A. Maier
- Joseph A. Needoba
- Peter Zuber
ABSTRACT:
Recurring blooms of the photosynthetic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum (= Myrionecta rubra) are observed each summer in the Columbia River estuary. Although cultured isolates of M. rubrum have been shown to consume cryptophyte prey during growth, the feeding behavior of M. rubrum in the field is poorly known. In the present study, a 3 mo time series of observations from a locale of putative bloom formation (Ilwaco harbor in Baker Bay, WA) showed that cryptophytes were present at relatively high abundance prior to and during M. rubrum blooms and declined with M. rubrum abundance. During 3 years of observation (summers of 2009, 2010, and 2011), we observed M. rubrum cells bearing numerous cryptophytes attached to the cirri throughout the estuary, especially during the bloom initiation phase and particularly in the peripheral bays. We performed a laboratory investigation in 2011 in which cryptophyte prey were introduced to high-density red-water samples in aquarium tanks. Within 2 h, individual M. rubrum cells collected multiple cryptophytes on their cirri, likely as a precursor to ingestion. The cells ceased their jumping motion and instead exhibited an undulation of the cirri and drifted slowly. We hypothesize that the availability and type of cryptophyte prey is important for bloom formation and that the acquisition of several cryptophytes at once by M. rubrum may be indicative of its ability to ‘gather’ or concentrate cryptophytes from the environment.
KEYWORDS
- Video (A1598SupplMovie.mp4)
Supplementary Video. Movement in a Mesodinium rubrum specimen that bears cryptophytes attached to the cirri. Instead of the characteristic explosive jump typically observed in members of this species, a short jump is followed by undulation of the cirri.
Tawnya D. Peterson (Co-author)
- Institute of Environmental Health, Division of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, Oregon Health & Science University, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
- Science and Technology Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
Rachel L. Golda (Co-author)
- Institute of Environmental Health, Division of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, Oregon Health & Science University, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
- Science and Technology Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
Michael L. Garcia (Co-author)
- Institute of Environmental Health, Division of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, Oregon Health & Science University, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
- Science and Technology Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
Binglin Li (Co-author)
- Institute of Environmental Health, Division of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, Oregon Health & Science University, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
- Science and Technology Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
Michelle A. Maier (Co-author)
- Institute of Environmental Health, Division of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, Oregon Health & Science University, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
- Science and Technology Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
Joseph A. Needoba (Co-author)
- Institute of Environmental Health, Division of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, Oregon Health & Science University, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
- Science and Technology Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
Peter Zuber (Co-author)
- Institute of Environmental Health, Division of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, Oregon Health & Science University, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA
- Science and Technology Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction, 20000 NW Walker Rd., Beaverton, Oregon 97006, USA