TY - JOUR

T1 - Interaction between Mesodinium rubrum and its prey: importance of prey concentration, irradiance and pH

AU - Moldrup, Morten

AU - Hansen, Per Juel

N1 - KEY WORDS: Mesodinium rubrum · Myrionecta rubra · Functional numerical response · Irradiance · Starvation · pH

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - ABSTRACT: The functional and numerical responses for the marine obligate mixotrophic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum Lohmann, 1908 (=Myrionecta rubra Jankowsky, 1976) were studied at 2 irradiances (20 and 100 µE m2 s-1). Furthermore, its tolerance to high pH levels and response to starvation were studied in mixed cultures of M. rubrum and Teleaulax sp. The functional and numerical response study showed that the threshold concentration of the cryptophyte Teleaulax sp. was 50 cells ml-1 and the maximum growth of M. rubrum was 0.23 and 0.49 d-1 for 20 and 100 µE m2 s-1, respectively. Calculation of ingestion rates revealed that ~1 Teleaulax sp. cell M. rubrum-1 d-1 was sufficient to maintain the maximum growth rate. Maximum ingestion rates were independent of light and saturated at ~6 Teleaulax sp. cells M. rubrum-1 d-1. A heterotrophic carbon uptake of from 2 to 4% of M. rubrum carbon content was sufficient for maximum growth, but carbon contributions as high as 22% were observed to have no effect on growth. The pH experiments revealed that the growth of M. rubrum and Teleaulax sp. was impeded at pH levels in excess of 8.5 and 8.8, respectively. Experiments to reveal M. rubrum's response to starvation showed that M. rubrum could survive for around 50 d without prey. These results are all discussed with respect to M. rubrum's adaptation to its environment.

AB - ABSTRACT: The functional and numerical responses for the marine obligate mixotrophic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum Lohmann, 1908 (=Myrionecta rubra Jankowsky, 1976) were studied at 2 irradiances (20 and 100 µE m2 s-1). Furthermore, its tolerance to high pH levels and response to starvation were studied in mixed cultures of M. rubrum and Teleaulax sp. The functional and numerical response study showed that the threshold concentration of the cryptophyte Teleaulax sp. was 50 cells ml-1 and the maximum growth of M. rubrum was 0.23 and 0.49 d-1 for 20 and 100 µE m2 s-1, respectively. Calculation of ingestion rates revealed that ~1 Teleaulax sp. cell M. rubrum-1 d-1 was sufficient to maintain the maximum growth rate. Maximum ingestion rates were independent of light and saturated at ~6 Teleaulax sp. cells M. rubrum-1 d-1. A heterotrophic carbon uptake of from 2 to 4% of M. rubrum carbon content was sufficient for maximum growth, but carbon contributions as high as 22% were observed to have no effect on growth. The pH experiments revealed that the growth of M. rubrum and Teleaulax sp. was impeded at pH levels in excess of 8.5 and 8.8, respectively. Experiments to reveal M. rubrum's response to starvation showed that M. rubrum could survive for around 50 d without prey. These results are all discussed with respect to M. rubrum's adaptation to its environment.

U2 - 10.3354/meps338061

DO - 10.3354/meps338061

M3 - Journal article

SP - 61

EP - 70

JO - Marine Ecology - Progress Series

JF - Marine Ecology - Progress Series

SN - 0171-8630

IS - 338

ER -