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Trapping of swimming microalgae in foam
Quentin Roveillo1, Julien Dervaux1, Yuxuan Wang1
1Université de Paris, CNRS UMR 7057, Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes MSC, F-75006 Paris, France.
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|July 8, 2020
Summary
Marine foam traps living phytoplankton cells, unlike dead cells. This discovery impacts understanding of aquatic ecosystems and the role of foam in retaining motile microorganisms.
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Fluid Dynamics
- Foam Physics
Background:
- Aquatic foams seasonally impact marine ecosystems.
- Foams can filter passive particles, but their effect on active biological particles like phytoplankton is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if phytoplankton cells are passively advected through foam.
- To assess the retention of motile microorganisms in aquatic foams.
Main Methods:
- Incorporated the alga *Chlamydomonas reinhardtii* (CR) into a bio-compatible foam.
- Measured cell escape dynamics comparing living and dead CR cells.
- Observed CR cell behavior in micro-chambers mimicking foam channels.
Main Results:
- Dead CR cells were fully advected by liquid flow.
- Living, motile CR cells escaped foam at a significantly lower rate (up to 60% retained after 2 hours).
- CR cells accumulated near channel corners, explaining macroscopic retention.
Conclusions:
- Motile phytoplankton exhibit retention in aquatic foams due to micro-scale trapping.
- This finding is crucial for understanding the ecological impact of aquatic foams on planktonic organisms.
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