Journal
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
Volume 254, Issue -, Pages 49-56Publisher
INTER-RESEARCH
DOI: 10.3354/meps254049
Keywords
Prymnesium parvum; toxic algae; grazing avoidance; nutrient limitation; grazing; growth; ciliate
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
We studied the growth and feeding response of the ciliate Euplotes affinis when exposed to algal cultures of Prymnesium parvum and Rhodomonas cf. baltica as monocultures or as mixtures. Cultures of P. parvum grown under nutrient-limited (N or P) or nutrient-sufficient conditions were tested for toxicity against E. affinis. Ciliates grew well when fed R. cf. baltica, but avoided grazing on monocultures of P. parvum, regardless of algal concentration. Increasing abundances of P. parvum decreased survival of the ciliate, even if supplied as a mixture together with high concentrations of R. cf. baltica as an alternative prey. This implies that P. parvum produces substances that were fatal to the ciliate when released to the medium. The lethal effect of P. parvum was dependent on the physiological status of the cells, with the highest toxicity in nutrient-stressed cultures. Our results suggest that toxin production in P. parvum may be a chemical defense to repel predators.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available