Difference between revisions of "Foraminifera feeding on diatoms"
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
| − | The mechanism by which foraminifera feed on diatoms is not well understood. Previous studies have suggested a possible function for the surface “tooth-like” tubercles in modern benthic foraminifera (Arnold, 1964; Banner and Culver, 1978; Alexander and Banner, 1984; Bernhard and Bowser, 1999). Studies of H. germanica (Alexander and Banner, 1984; Banner and Culver, 1978) suggest that as food particles are transported over the surface of the foraminifera, they are channeled to areas of high tubercle density. In H. germanica this correlates with the major aperture and the latero-umbilical supplementary apertures (Alexander and Banner, 1984) (Figure 3). As the particles are moved past the tubercles, they are sorted by size and larger fragments become disaggregated in preparation for later ingestion (phagocytosis) at the apertures (Banner and Culver, 1978; Bernhard and Bowser, 1999). Alexander and Banner (1984) further suggested that the forces created during this active transportation over the tubercles were of sufficient magnitude to break open diatom frustules releasing the diatom contents, including the chloroplasts, for ingestion. | + | The mechanism by which foraminifera feed on diatoms is not well understood. Previous studies have suggested a possible function for the surface “tooth-like” tubercles in modern benthic foraminifera (Arnold, 1964; Banner and Culver, 1978; Alexander and Banner, 1984; Bernhard and Bowser, 1999). Studies of ''H. germanica'' (Alexander and Banner, 1984; Banner and Culver, 1978) suggest that as food particles are transported over the surface of the foraminifera, they are channeled to areas of high tubercle density. In H. germanica this correlates with the major aperture and the latero-umbilical supplementary apertures (Alexander and Banner, 1984) (Figure 3). As the particles are moved past the tubercles, they are sorted by size and larger fragments become disaggregated in preparation for later ingestion (phagocytosis) at the apertures (Banner and Culver, 1978; Bernhard and Bowser, 1999). Alexander and Banner (1984) further suggested that the forces created during this active transportation over the tubercles were of sufficient magnitude to break open diatom frustules releasing the diatom contents, including the chloroplasts, for ingestion. |
