Ecology of planktonic foraminifera and their symbiotic algae

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6788526

Gastrich, M D

Two types of symbiotic algae occurred abundantly and persistently in the cytoplasm of several species of planktonic Foraminifera over a ten year period in different tropical and subtropical areas of the North Atlantic Ocean. These planktonic Foraminifera host species consistently harbored either dinoflagellates or a newly described minute coccoid algal type. There appeared to be a specific host-symbiont relationship in these species regardless of year, season or geographic locality. The larger ovoid dinoflagellates (Pyrrhophycophyta) occur in the spinose species Globigerinoides ruber, Globigerinoides sacculifer, G. conglobatus and Orbulina universa. The smaller alga, from 1.5 to 3.5 um in diameter, occurs in one spinose species Globigerinella aequilateralis and also in the non-spinose species Globigerinita glutinata, Globoquadrina dutertrei, Globorotalia menardii, Globorotalia cristata, Globorotalia inflata, Candeina nitida, in various juvenile specimens and at all seasons except the winter months in Pulleniatina obliquiloculata and Globorotalial hirsuta. Controlled laboratory studies indicated a significant C incorporation into the host cytoplasm and inorganic calcium carbonate test of Globigerinoides ruber. During incubation for up to two hours, the /sup 14/C uptake into the cytoplasm and test in the light was significantly greater than uptake in the dark by living specimens or by dead foraminifers. There appears to be light-enhanced uptake of /sup 14/C into the test with dinoflagellate photosynthesis contributing to host calcification. In culture, symbiotic algae were observed to survive for the duration of the lifespan of their hosts.

• Research Organization: Rutgers--the State Univ., New Brunswick, NJ (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6788526
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550701* -- Microbiology-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ECOLOGY
FORAMINIFERA
INVERTEBRATES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANKTON
PLANTS
PROTOZOA
SARCODINA
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
SYMBIOSIS
SYNTHESIS
UPTAKE