Near-coronal fluid flow patterns and food cell manipulation in the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus

Abstract

Brachionus calyciflorus is able to differentially capture or deflect potential food cells depending on the overall density (numbers µl⁻¹) and size of suspended particles the rotifer encounters while feeding. This has been shown to correlate with behavioral regulation of pseudotrochal structures, and primarily by large medial tufts of compound cilia (cirri). When pseudotrochal cirri are extended laterally, inferred fluid flow pathlines show that only cells in the central 25 µm of the coronal disk are subject to ingestion. When pseudotrochal cirri form medially-oriented screens, fluid flow is directed away from the pseudotrochas and central corona, an effect apparent up to 70 µm in front of a restrained animal. Fluid flow in all areas of the B. calyciflorus corona is at very low Reynolds Number (Re), with calculated values always less than 10⁻¹. Accordingly, removal of cells from feeding currents probably is not due to sieving but is more likely due to direct interception of particles by individual ciliary elements. Certain large cells — such as Euglena gracilis — are retained in the inner pseudotrochal space for up to 500 msec, ample time for B. calyciflorus to assess the physical and chemical characteristics of this or other potential foods.