Difference between revisions of "Foraminifera feeding on diatoms"
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| + | [[Image:ApertureB1a.gif|thumb|right|200px| <font size="2">'''Figure 1:''' Video clip showing the apertural area of the benthic foraminifera Haynesina germanica, collecting benthic diatoms Skeletonima costatum via pseudopodial network.]] | ||
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| + | [[Image:haygercopy.jpg|thumb|right|200px| <font size="2">'''Figure 2:''' The benthic foraminifer ''Haynesina'' germanica collecting benthic diatoms ''Pleurosigma angulatum'' into feeding bundles.]] | ||
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| + | [[Image:haynesinaSEM.jpg|thumb|right|200px| <font size="2">'''Figure 3: Scanning electron micrograph of apertural view in ''Haynesina germanica''; numerous tubercles are clearly visible.]] | ||
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Benthic foraminifera are known to feed on (Murray, 1963; Lee et al., 1966; Lee, 1980; Anderson et al.,1991; Moodley et al., 2000; Ward et al., 2003) and/or sequester diatoms (Lopez, 1979; Cedhagen, 1991; Bernhard and Bowser, 1999; Correia and Lee, 2000, 2002) and their chloroplasts. Intracellular ingestion, also known as phagocytosis, is recognised among some foraminifera species e.g. Crithionina delacai (Gooday et al., 1995). | Benthic foraminifera are known to feed on (Murray, 1963; Lee et al., 1966; Lee, 1980; Anderson et al.,1991; Moodley et al., 2000; Ward et al., 2003) and/or sequester diatoms (Lopez, 1979; Cedhagen, 1991; Bernhard and Bowser, 1999; Correia and Lee, 2000, 2002) and their chloroplasts. Intracellular ingestion, also known as phagocytosis, is recognised among some foraminifera species e.g. Crithionina delacai (Gooday et al., 1995). | ||
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| − | The forces required to induce such a cracking effect are likely to be large. For example, a study carried out by Hamm et al. (2003), where the pennate planktonic diatom ''Fragilariopsis kerguelensis'' was studied, demonstrated cracking when an experimental force of 750 AN was applied. The processes controlling silicification in both planktonic and benthic diatoms are known to vary according to a number of factors (see Raven and Waite, 2004 for a review) and it can be speculated that similar or even greater forces are required to crack the large, benthic species ''P. angulatum''. Interestingly, Hamm et al. (2003) speculated because of the very large forces required to break diatom frustules, that grazers are likely to have evolved specialised tools to break open diatoms. | + | The forces required to induce such a cracking effect are likely to be large. For example, a study carried out by Hamm et al. (2003), where the pennate planktonic diatom ''Fragilariopsis kerguelensis'' was studied, demonstrated cracking when an experimental force of 750 AN was applied. The processes controlling silicification in both planktonic and benthic diatoms are known to vary according to a number of factors (see Raven and Waite, 2004 for a review) and it can be speculated that similar or even greater forces are required to crack the large, benthic species ''P. angulatum''. Interestingly, Hamm et al. (2003) speculated because of the very large forces required to break diatom frustules, that grazers are likely to have evolved specialised tools to break open diatoms. |
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