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Long-term functional kleptoplasty in benthic foraminifera
Doron Pinko1, Dewi Langlet2,3, Olha Sur2
1Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel.
Iscience
|March 24, 2025
Summary
Foraminifera protists, Hauerina diversa, can retain chloroplasts from prey (kleptoplasty) for extended periods. This study reveals stable kleptoplasty with no photoinhibition, suggesting a strong host-kleptoplast partnership.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Protistology
- Symbiosis Research
Background:
- Foraminifera are diverse rhizarian protists.
- Some foraminifera exhibit kleptoplasty, retaining chloroplasts from prey.
- Hauerina diversa is a benthic foraminifera studied for kleptoplasty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate host-kleptoplast interactions in Hauerina diversa.
- To understand the stability and photosynthetic activity of kleptoplasts in H. diversa.
- To explore the commitment of H. diversa to kleptoplasty.
Main Methods:
- Assessing photosynthetic rates of H. diversa under varying light intensities.
- Observing plastid retention in H. diversa deprived of heterotrophic feeding for 50 days.
- Analyzing host-kleptoplast interactions and potential maintenance mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Kleptoplasts in H. diversa show activity across a wide light range without photoinhibition.
- This lack of photoinhibition may stem from lost host-specific photoinhibition elements.
- Extended kleptoplast retention (50 days) was observed even without feeding.
Conclusions:
- Hauerina diversa demonstrates stable and long-term kleptoplasty.
- The organism shows high commitment to the kleptoplast partnership.
- Maintenance mechanisms likely resemble those in other symbiont-bearing foraminifera.
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