Publication Date:
2022-05-26
Description:
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution February 1987
Description:
A group of thecate heterotrophic dinoflagellates (THDs),
principally in the diverse and ubiquitous genus Protoperidinium, was
investigated both from an ecological and an organismal perspective.
When this study was initiated, nothing was known about their feeding
mechanisms, rates or food preferences. The population dynamics of these
microheterotrophs were studied in a temperate estuary over a 13 month
period, along with co-occurring diatoms, ciliates and pigmented
(photosynthetic) dinoflagellates. The timing of several peaks in
Protoperidinium abundance coincided with those of diatom blooms,
suggesting a possible trophic dependance. During such peaks the
biovolume or biomass of the THD community exceeded that of both
pigmented dinoflagellates and ciliates. Occurrence patterns of
individual THD species were closely related to water temperature; this
may indicate the involvement of benthic resting cysts in population
succession.
Small-scale vertical distributional patterns of THDs were also
studied in an embayment with an average depth of 5 m. While two
autotrophic dinoflagellate species displayed distinct daily vertical
migration patterns, THD species did not; most species maintained a
constant 2-5 m depth of maximum abundance, while two others had surface
maxima.
Feeding behavior, as observed in 19 THD species (Oblea rotunda,
Zygabikodinium lenticulatum and 17 species of Protoperidinium) fits the
following pattern: a THD cell attaches a slender filament to a prey item
(usually a diatom) while it is engaged in a characteristic, spiralling
"dance". Subsequently, a pseudopod or "pallium" (a term defined here)
emerges from the flagellar pore and envelops the prey within a minute.
Ten to sixty minutes later the pallium is retracted and the prey (now a
nearly-empty frustule) is discarded. Most species feed only on diatoms,
but O. rotunda, Z. lenticulatum (both diplopsaloid species) and P.
pyriforme also preyed upon dinoflagellates.
Ingestion and growth rates were determined in the laboratory where
cultures of Protoperidinium hirobis were fed the diatom Leptocylindrus
danicus. Feeding cycles were repeated as often as every 1.5 to 2
hours. Maximal ingestion rates of 23 diatoms*day-1 supported
unexpectedly high specific growth rates of up to 1.1*day-1 (1.7
divisions*day-1). Half-maximal growth and grazing rates occurred at
approximately 1000 diatoms cells*ml- 1. Peak division frequencies
occurred at night, although feeding rate was nearly constant on a diel
basis.
The ultrastructure of the feeding apparatus was studied in
Protoperidinium spinulosum. The pallium, when deployed, is composed of
a complex system of membranous channels, vesicles, and a few
microtubular ribbons radiating from the flagellar pore. Inside this
pore, the pallium is continuous with the contents of an elongate
microtubular basket that extends towards the nucleus. The apical end of
this basket opens adjacent to the nucleus; at this point its contents
become continuous with the central cytoplasmic region. This region is
distinguished from the relatively dense, peripheral cytoplasm by the
presence of either large electron-lucent vesicles (containing, perhaps,
digestive enzymes) or numerous small lipid droplets. Examination of a
pre-feeding cell has revealed the likely source of the pallium
membranes: dense membranous whorls lie within the microtubular basket.
A narrow pseudopodal appendage in two non-feeding cells may constitute
the tow filament used in prey capture. A complex myonemaI system,
including osmiophilic ring, striated collars and connecting bands is
described. The microtubular basket and osmiophilic ring structures were
also found in Protoperidinium hirobis, Protoperidinium punctulatum and
Oblea rotunda.
This thesis has done much to further the understanding of a
prevalent component of the protozooplankton, the thecate heterotrophic
dinoflagellates. This progress, which was due in a large part to the
culture success reported herein, includes new insights into the
abundance, feeding behavior, food preferences, feeding rates, and
ultrastructural basis of feeding in this preeminent group of the thecate
heterotrophic dinoflagellates, the genus Protoperidinium.
Description:
My research was supported in part by a NSF graduate fellowship, a
graduate research grant through the WHOI Coastal Research Center, and
two NSF grants, OCE-8400292 and DCB-8520605.
Keywords:
Dinoflagellates
Repository Name:
Woods Hole Open Access Server
Type:
Thesis
Format:
application/pdf
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