Abstract
The quantitative uptake of latex beads of different sizes and of live cells by 14 species of ciliates was studied. The functional response (uptake rate as function of food particle concentration) can be fitted to a hyperbolic function and this can be explained in terms of the function of the mouth apparatus. Each species shows a distinct size spectrum of particles which are retained and ingested. These size spectra may be explained by mouth morphology, and particle size selection may play a role for niche separation of coexisting ciliates. Most bacterivorous holotrich ciliates retain particles down to 0.2μm and in one case down to 0.1μm; they retain particles between 0.3 and 1μm most efficiently. The spirotrich ciliates investigated do not retain particles smaller than 1–2μm.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Coleman, A. S.: The metabolism ofEscherichia coli and other bacteria byEntodinium caudatum. J. Gen. Microbiol.37, 209–223 (1964)
Crowley, P. H.: Filtering rate inhibition ofDaphnia pulex in Wintergreen Lake water. Limnol. Oceanogr.18, 394–402 (1973)
Curds, C. R., and A. Cockburn: Studies on the growth and feeding ofTetrahymena pyriformis in axenic and monoxenic culture. J. Gen. Microbiol.54, 343–358 (1968)
Dive, D.: La nutrition holozoique des protozoaires cilies. Ses conséquences dans l'épuration naturelle et artificielle. Ann. Biol.12, 343–380 (1973)
Fenchel, T.: The ecology of marine microbenthos. II. The food of marine benthic ciliates. Ophelia5, 73–121 (1968)
Fenchel, T.: Suspension feeding in ciliated protozoa: structure and function of feeding organelles. Arch. Protistenk.123(in press)
Fenchel, T.: Suspension feeding in ciliated protozoa: feeding rates and the ecological significance. Microb. Ecol. (this volume)
Fenchel, T. and E. B. Small: Structure and function of the oral cavity and its organelles in the hymenostome ciliateGlaucoma. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc. (in press)
Giese, A. C. (ed.):Blepharisma: The Biology of a Light-Sensitive Protozoan. Stanford University Press, Stanford (1973)
Hamilton, R. D., and J. E. Preslan: Observations on the continuous culture of a planktonic phagotrophic protozoan. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol.5, 94–104 (1970)
Heinbokel, J. F.: Studies on the functional role of tintinnids in the Southern California Bight. I. Grazing and growth rates in laboratory cultures. Mar. Biol.47, 177–189 (1978)
Holling, C. S.: Some characteristics of simple types of predation and parasitism. Can. Entomol.91, 385–398 (1959)
Jørgensen, C. B.: Biology of Suspension Feeding. Pergamon, Oxford (1966)
Jørgensen, C. B.: Suspension feeding. Handbook of Nutrition and Food, Sect. E. CRC Press, Cleveland (in press)
Mueller, M., P. Röhlich, and I. Törö: Studies on feeding and digestion in protozoa. VII. Ingestion of polystyrene latex particles and its early effect on acid phosphatase inParamecium multimicronucleatum andTetrahymena pyriformis. J. Protozool.12, 27–34 (1965)
Mullin, M. M., and E. F. Stewart: Ingestion by planktonic grazers as a function of concentration of food. Limnol. Oceanogr.20, 259–262 (1975)
Nilsson, J. R.: Further studies on vacuole formation inTetrahymena pyriformis GL. C. R. Trav. Lab. Carlsberg39, 83–110 (1972)
Rapport, D. J., J. Berger, and D. B. W. Reid: Determination of food preference ofStentor coeruleus. Biol. Bull.142, 103–109 (1972)
Taylor, W. D.: Growth responses of ciliate protozoa to the abundance of their bacterial prey. Microb. Ecol.4, 207–214 (1978)
Taylor, W. D., and J. Berger: Growth responses of cohabiting ciliate protozoa to various prey bacteria. Can. J. Zool.54, 1111–1114 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fenchel, T. Suspension feeding in ciliated protozoa: Functional response and particle size selection. Microb Ecol 6, 1–11 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02020370
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02020370