Utilisation of seaweed carbon by three surface-associated heterotrophic protists, Stereomyxa ramosa, Nitzschia alba and Labyrinthula sp.

Evelyn Armstrong, Andrew Rogerson, John W. Leftley

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    36 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In view of the abundance of protists associated with seaweeds and the diversity of nutritional strategies displayed by protists in general, the ability of 3 closely associated protists to utilise seaweed carbon was investigated. Stereomyxa ramosa, Nitzschia alba and Labyrinthula sp. were cultured with seaweed polysaccharides as well as seaweed itself. N. alba and Labyrinthula sp. were found to utilise seaweed polysaccharides in axenic culture. All 3 protists were capable of penetrating intact but 'damaged' (autoclaved) seaweed particularly when bacteria were present. The possibility that these and other heterotrophic protists are directly removing macroalgal carbon in the field is discussed.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)49-57
    Number of pages9
    JournalAquatic Microbial Ecology
    Volume21
    Issue number1
    Publication statusPublished - 21 Feb 2000

    Keywords

    • Carbon
    • Heterotroph
    • Protist
    • Seaweed
    • Utilisation

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