Length of bacterial cells selected for predation by Ochromonas

Range <0.9 µm
Organism Nanoflagellate Ochromonas spp.
Reference Young KD. The selective value of bacterial shape. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2006 Sep70(3):660-703 DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.00001-06 p.685 right column bottom paragraphPubMed ID16959965
Primary Source [259] Posch et al., 1999. Predator-induced changes of bacterial size-structure and productivity studied on an experimental microbial community. Aquat. Microb. Ecol. 18: 235–246 doi:10.3354/ame018235
Method Primary source [259] abstract: "The grazing impact of 3 different protozoan species on a mixed bacterial community was studied by means of a simplified and functionally reproducible experimental microbial food web in a 2-stage flow-through system. In the first stage the algae Rhodomonas sp. was grown on an inorganic medium with its accompanying bacterial community (BC) growing on algal exudates. This mixture of algae and bacteria was transferred into 4 second stage vessels: (1) a control, and 3 vessels inoculated with (2) a heterotrophic nanoflagellate, Bodo saltans, (3) a scuticociliate, Cyclidium glaucoma, and (4) a mixotrophic flagellate, Ochromonas sp. Using image analysis techniques [investigators] followed the changes in bacterial size distributions and bacterial to protozoan total biovolume ratios over an experimental period of 15 d. In addition, productivity of the grazed and ungrazed BC was measured using [3H]thymidine and [14C]leucine."
Comments P.685 right column bottom paragraph: "The effect is not confined to filter feeders, because grazing by the mixotrophic flagellate Ochromonas also selects for cells of less than 0.9µm in diameter (primary source)."
Entered by Uri M
ID 115728