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Prey Food Quality Affects Flagellate Ingestion Rates

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Abstract

Flagellate feeding efficiency appears to depend on morphological characteristics of prey such as cell size and motility, as well as on other characteristics such as digestibility and cell surface characteristics. Bacteria of varying morphological characteristics (cell size) and mineral nutrient characteristics or food quality (as determined by the C:N:P ratio) were obtained by growing Pseudomonas fluorescens in chemostats at four dilution rates (0.03, 0.06, 0.10, and 0.13 h−1) and three temperatures (14°C, 20°C, and 28°C). Cells of a given food quality were heat-killed and used to grow the flagellate Ochromonas danica. Ingestion and digestion rates were determined by using fluorescently labeled bacteria of the same food quality as the bacteria supporting growth. Ingestion rates were affected by both food quality and cell size. Cells of high food quality (low carbon:element ratio) were ingested at higher rates than cells of low food quality. Multiple regression analysis indicated that cell size also influenced ingestion rate but to a much lesser extent than did food quality. Digestion rates were not correlated with either food quality or cell size. Results suggest that flagellates may adjust feeding efficiency based on the quality of food items available.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Texas Advanced Research Program grant 003656-0153-2001 and by National Science Foundation grant DEB-0444844. Special thanks to Marnie Rout, Natalie Hanna and Guimel Molina for assistance with analytical work.

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  1. Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Arlington, P.O. Box 19498, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA

    Thomas H. Chrzanowski

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  1. S. Paul Shannon
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Correspondence to Thomas H. Chrzanowski.

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Shannon, S.P., Chrzanowski, T.H. & Grover, J.P. Prey Food Quality Affects Flagellate Ingestion Rates. Microb Ecol 53, 66–73 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-006-9140-y

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