School of Engineering and Science - Jacobs University
School of Engineering and Science - Jacobs University
School of Engineering and Science - Jacobs University
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INTRODUCTION<br />
Figure 4: Diplopsalis lenticula digesting a<br />
Thalassiosira rotula chain in its pallium<br />
(arrow). Scale bar 50 µm.<br />
Figure 5: Dinophysis acuminata feeding on<br />
Myrionecta rubra with a peduncle (arrow).<br />
Scale bar 10 µm. Photo: Myung Gil Park<br />
(Park et al., 2006)<br />
Another group <strong>of</strong> din<strong>of</strong>lagellates takes up food by feeding tubes (Figure 5), used to<br />
pierce the prey cell <strong>and</strong> suck out its cytoplasm (e.g. Amphidinium spp., Dinophysis<br />
spp.). Two different types <strong>of</strong> feeding tubes have been described: Peduncle <strong>and</strong><br />
phagopod (Schnepf & Elbrächter, 1992)<br />
Food spectrum<br />
A wide range <strong>of</strong> prey items are reported for din<strong>of</strong>lagellates, including almost every kind<br />
<strong>of</strong> organic particle present in the marine habitat. Food particles range from bacteria to<br />
nan<strong>of</strong>lagellates, all size classes <strong>of</strong> microalgae, especially chain-forming diatoms, marine<br />
snow, microzooplankton as well as copepod eggs <strong>and</strong> even injured metazoans (Jeong,<br />
1999). However, the prey used by a particular species <strong>of</strong> din<strong>of</strong>lagellate most probably<br />
depends on different factors such as their size, chemo-attraction <strong>and</strong> swimming<br />
behaviour (Hansen, 1992). Laboratory determined predator:prey size ratios within<br />
heterotrophic din<strong>of</strong>lagellates show that they can feed <strong>and</strong> grow on predator:prey size<br />
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