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Intraspecific selectivity, compensatory feeding and flexible homeostasis in the phagotrophic flagellate Oxyrrhis marina: three ways to handle food quality fluctuations

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Abstract

The phagotrophic flagellate Oxyrrhis marina shows a strong stoichiometric plasticity when fed differently grown Rhodomonas salina. We tested whether differently pre-conditioned O. marina displayed selective feeding behaviour from a mixture of nitrogen and phosphorus depleted R. salina. We observed selective feeding of O. marina, always selecting phosphorus rich R. salina independent of the pre-conditioning of the protists. In a second experiment, O. marina was again pre-conditioned either with nitrogen- or phosphorus-depleted R. salina and was refed with either of the differently limited R. salina in single food treatments (not in a mixture). The phagotrophic flagellate displayed compensatory feeding which means that O. marina feed more on the food source which they were not given before. Due to its stoichiometric plasticity, O. marina might handle bad quality food by following the stoichiometry of its prey and additionally by active selective feeding towards P-rich algae to enhance growth. Post-ingestion selection might as well be an important feature which means that ingested elements in excess are quickly excreted and scarce elements are ingested through accelerated food uptake.

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Acknowledgments

This study is a part of the PhD studies conducted by C.M. and F.M.H. at the Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Bremerhaven, Germany, financed by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and GKSS Geesthacht, Germany, and complies with current German law on animal studies. We thank two anonymous reviewers, Martin Löder, Christina Gebühr, and Petra Brandt for useful discussions. Special thanks to Katherina Schoo whose linguistic suggestions improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Postfach 180, 27483, Helgoland, Germany

    Cédric Léo Meunier, Florian M. Hantzsche, Alessandra Ö. Cunha-Dupont, Julia Haafke, Bettina Oppermann, Arne M. Malzahn & Maarten Boersma

  2. Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, Institute for Coastal Research, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany

    Florian M. Hantzsche & Arne M. Malzahn

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  1. Cédric Léo Meunier
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Correspondence to Cédric Léo Meunier.

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Meunier, C.L., Hantzsche, F.M., Cunha-Dupont, A.Ö. et al. Intraspecific selectivity, compensatory feeding and flexible homeostasis in the phagotrophic flagellate Oxyrrhis marina: three ways to handle food quality fluctuations. Hydrobiologia 680, 53–62 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0900-4

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