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Protists are diverse eukaryotic microorganisms that lack the specialized tissues of plants and animals and the chitinous cell walls of fungi. Their early divergence within Eukarya resulted in structural, functional, and ecological diversity. They are classified into supergroups such as Archaeplastida, Excavata, Amoebozoa, Rhizaria, Alveolata, and Stramenopiles, determined through genetic analysis and structural similarities.Structural and Functional AdaptationsProtists have various adaptations...
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Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
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Rhizaria are a diverse group of unicellular protists characterized by their threadlike cytoplasmic extensions known as pseudopodia. These structures aid in both locomotion and feeding, giving Rhizaria an amoeboid appearance. Their amoeboid morphology once led to taxonomic confusion, but molecular phylogenetics has clarified their evolutionary placement and emphasized their shared use of pseudopodia despite divergent lineages.This clade comprises diverse lineages such as Chlorarachniophyta,...
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Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
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Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
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Fluorescently Labeled Bacteria as a Tracer to Reveal Novel Pathways of Organic Carbon Flow in Aquatic Ecosystems
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Killing the killer: predation between protists and predatory bacteria.

Julia Johnke1, Jens Boenigk2, Hauke Harms1,3

  • 1Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
|April 27, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Phagotrophic protists can prey on Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs), impacting microbial communities. While BALOs serve as a food source, they may not be optimal for all protist growth compared to larger bacteria.

Keywords:
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorusPoterioochromonasPoteriospumellaTetrahymenadifferential predationgrazing

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Area of Science:

  • Microbial ecology
  • Predator-prey dynamics
  • Aquatic microbiology

Background:

  • Microbial predation is a key factor in bacterial mortality and shapes microbial community structure.
  • Micropredators often compete for bacterial resources, leading to complex interactions.
  • Understanding these interactions is vital for ecosystem functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the predatory interactions between phagotrophic protists and Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs).
  • To determine if protists can prey on BALOs, which are small, fast-moving obligate bacterial predators.
  • To assess the growth rates of different protists when feeding on BALOs.

Main Methods:

  • Predation experiments were conducted using three species of phagotrophic protists (one filter feeder, two interception feeders).
  • Protists were offered BALOs as a prey source.
  • Growth rates of protists were measured and compared to growth on Escherichia coli.

Main Results:

  • Protists were shown to prey on BALOs, confirming they are a relevant food source.
  • The growth rate of protists varied when feeding on BALOs.
  • A filter-feeding ciliate exhibited similar growth on BALOs and E. coli, while two flagellate species showed reduced growth on BALOs compared to E. coli.

Conclusions:

  • Phagotrophic protists can successfully prey on BALOs.
  • BALOs represent a viable, though not always optimal, food source for protists, influencing protist growth rates.
  • The efficiency of BALOs as a food source depends on the protist feeding strategy and resource availability.