Paramecium - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Protozoologie / German ...

Niche separation and coexistence of chrysophytes: The
Alpine Lake Gradient Analysis (ALGA)
Jens Boenigk
Institut für Limnologie der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
We currently investigate microeukaryotes with a focus on chrysomonad
flagellates in an alpine gradient comprising 40 lakes. The analysis
comprises morphological surveys based on light and electron microscopy
as well as molecular surveys. We further isolated more than
100 chrysophyte strains from these lakes. For these strains we investigate
molecular signatures as well as the ecophysiological adaptation.
Resting stages, i.e. cysts, are analysed from material captured in sediment
traps and linked to the vegetative cells by means of molecular
methods. Both, chrysomonad cysts as well as vegetative cells are analysed
on a seasonal basis for selected lakes. Aspects of the microdiversity
and population dynamics are covered by cultivation-independent
molecular methods. Our main goal is to gain insights in the
coexistence, niche differentiation and distribution pattern of the target
organisms by a holistic approach combing molecular, morphological,
ecophysiological and palaeolimnological data. We will present an
overview on the current activities and first results.
jens.boenigk@oeaw.ac.at
53