Mucus-Trap-Assisted Feeding Is a Common Strategy of the Small Mixoplanktonic <i>Prorocentrum pervagatum</i> and <i>P. cordatum</i> (Prorocentrales, Dinophyceae)
<i>Prorocentrum</i> comprises a diverse group of bloom-forming dinophytes with a worldwide distribution. Although photosynthetic, mixoplanktonic phagotrophy has also been described. Recently, the small <i>P.</i> cf. <i>balticum</i> was shown to use a remarkable fe...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/7/1730 |
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| author | Urban Tillmann Aditee Mitra Kevin J. Flynn Michaela E. Larsson |
| author_facet | Urban Tillmann Aditee Mitra Kevin J. Flynn Michaela E. Larsson |
| author_sort | Urban Tillmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Prorocentrum</i> comprises a diverse group of bloom-forming dinophytes with a worldwide distribution. Although photosynthetic, mixoplanktonic phagotrophy has also been described. Recently, the small <i>P.</i> cf. <i>balticum</i> was shown to use a remarkable feeding strategy by crafting globular mucus traps to capture and immobilize potential prey. Here we present evidence showing that two additional related species, the recently described <i>P. pervagatum</i> and the cosmopolitan bloom-forming <i>P. cordatum</i>, also produce large (80–120 µm) mucus traps supporting their mixoplanktonic activity. Prey are captured within the traps either through passive entanglement upon contact with the outside surface, or through active water movement created by rotating <i>Prorocentrum</i> cells eddying particles to the inside surface where trapped live prey cells became immobilized. Entrapment in mucus assisted deployment into the prey of a peduncle extruded from the apical area of the <i>Prorocentrum</i> cell. Phagotrophy by <i>P. pervagatum</i> supported faster growth compared to unfed controls and time series quantification of food vacuoles revealed ingestion rates of ca. 10–12 <i>Teleaulax</i> prey cells day<sup>−1</sup>. Model calculations show clear advantages of deploying a mucus trap for increasing prey encounter rates. This study demonstrates that the large size and immobilization properties of mucus traps successfully increase the availability of prey for small <i>Prorocentrum</i> species, whose peduncle feeding mode impedes consumption of actively moving prey, and that this strategy is common among certain clades of small planktonic <i>Prorocentrum</i> species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:48:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a739405c2db448498b48c18e75b0b03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:48:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a739405c2db448498b48c18e75b0b032023-11-18T20:35:39ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-07-01117173010.3390/microorganisms11071730Mucus-Trap-Assisted Feeding Is a Common Strategy of the Small Mixoplanktonic <i>Prorocentrum pervagatum</i> and <i>P. cordatum</i> (Prorocentrales, Dinophyceae)Urban Tillmann0Aditee Mitra1Kevin J. Flynn2Michaela E. Larsson3Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, GermanySchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UKPlymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UKAquatic Science Branch, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia<i>Prorocentrum</i> comprises a diverse group of bloom-forming dinophytes with a worldwide distribution. Although photosynthetic, mixoplanktonic phagotrophy has also been described. Recently, the small <i>P.</i> cf. <i>balticum</i> was shown to use a remarkable feeding strategy by crafting globular mucus traps to capture and immobilize potential prey. Here we present evidence showing that two additional related species, the recently described <i>P. pervagatum</i> and the cosmopolitan bloom-forming <i>P. cordatum</i>, also produce large (80–120 µm) mucus traps supporting their mixoplanktonic activity. Prey are captured within the traps either through passive entanglement upon contact with the outside surface, or through active water movement created by rotating <i>Prorocentrum</i> cells eddying particles to the inside surface where trapped live prey cells became immobilized. Entrapment in mucus assisted deployment into the prey of a peduncle extruded from the apical area of the <i>Prorocentrum</i> cell. Phagotrophy by <i>P. pervagatum</i> supported faster growth compared to unfed controls and time series quantification of food vacuoles revealed ingestion rates of ca. 10–12 <i>Teleaulax</i> prey cells day<sup>−1</sup>. Model calculations show clear advantages of deploying a mucus trap for increasing prey encounter rates. This study demonstrates that the large size and immobilization properties of mucus traps successfully increase the availability of prey for small <i>Prorocentrum</i> species, whose peduncle feeding mode impedes consumption of actively moving prey, and that this strategy is common among certain clades of small planktonic <i>Prorocentrum</i> species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/7/1730microalgaemixotrophymixoplanktonpeduncle feedingvideo microscopymodelling |
| spellingShingle | Urban Tillmann Aditee Mitra Kevin J. Flynn Michaela E. Larsson Mucus-Trap-Assisted Feeding Is a Common Strategy of the Small Mixoplanktonic <i>Prorocentrum pervagatum</i> and <i>P. cordatum</i> (Prorocentrales, Dinophyceae) Microorganisms microalgae mixotrophy mixoplankton peduncle feeding video microscopy modelling |
| title | Mucus-Trap-Assisted Feeding Is a Common Strategy of the Small Mixoplanktonic <i>Prorocentrum pervagatum</i> and <i>P. cordatum</i> (Prorocentrales, Dinophyceae) |
| title_full | Mucus-Trap-Assisted Feeding Is a Common Strategy of the Small Mixoplanktonic <i>Prorocentrum pervagatum</i> and <i>P. cordatum</i> (Prorocentrales, Dinophyceae) |
| title_fullStr | Mucus-Trap-Assisted Feeding Is a Common Strategy of the Small Mixoplanktonic <i>Prorocentrum pervagatum</i> and <i>P. cordatum</i> (Prorocentrales, Dinophyceae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mucus-Trap-Assisted Feeding Is a Common Strategy of the Small Mixoplanktonic <i>Prorocentrum pervagatum</i> and <i>P. cordatum</i> (Prorocentrales, Dinophyceae) |
| title_short | Mucus-Trap-Assisted Feeding Is a Common Strategy of the Small Mixoplanktonic <i>Prorocentrum pervagatum</i> and <i>P. cordatum</i> (Prorocentrales, Dinophyceae) |
| title_sort | mucus trap assisted feeding is a common strategy of the small mixoplanktonic i prorocentrum pervagatum i and i p cordatum i prorocentrales dinophyceae |
| topic | microalgae mixotrophy mixoplankton peduncle feeding video microscopy modelling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/7/1730 |
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