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- Title
Large proportion of marine planktonic ciliates found to contain functional chloroplasts.
- Authors
Stoecker, Diane K.; Michaels, Ann E.; Davis, Linda H.
- Abstract
Planktonic ciliates, most importantly tintinnids and oligotrichs (subclass Choreotrichia), are important components of the micro-plankton in coastal waters1. At times, the biomass of ciliates is equivalent to the biomass of larger zooplankters2. The role of ciliates as grazers has been recognized (see ref. 3 for review), but their role as chloroplast-bearing cells has not been widely appreciated4. Many planktonic oligotrichs are pigmented because they sequester chloroplasts derived from a variety of chromophytic algae5-7. We report the first quantitative data on the frequency of chloroplast retention among planktonic oligotrichs and tintinnids. In surface waters during the spring and summer, approximately 42% of the planktonic ciliates have chloroplasts. During the autumn and winter, chloroplast-retaining species are less abundant, but still constitute at least 10% of the combined tintinnid and oligotrich fauna. Water samples containing large numbers of pigmented ciliates have a high chlorophyll content8 and fix carbon9. Although it has been speculated that sequestered chloroplasts in ciliates are functional5-7, we have demonstrated photosynthesis by chloroplast-containing ciliates experimentally. The trophic position of ciliates in planktonic food webs needs to be reconsidered.
- Publication
Nature, 1987, Vol 326, Issue 6115, p790
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/326790a0