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First observations of living sea-ice diatom agglomeration to tintinnid loricae in East Antarctica
Citation
Armbrecht, LH and Eriksen, R and Leventer, A and Armand, LK, First observations of living sea-ice diatom agglomeration to tintinnid loricae in East Antarctica, Journal of Plankton Research, 39, (5) pp. 795-802. ISSN 0142-7873 (2017) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2017 The Authors
DOI: doi:10.1093/plankt/fbx036
Abstract
Tintinnid ciliates are an important link in marine food webs as they feed on phytoplankton and bacteria while providing nutrients to higher trophic levels. Tintinnids are known to agglutinate mineral particles or dead biogenic material such as diatom frustules to their shell-like housing (lorica), however, reasons for this agglutination remain questioned. We report on our observation of agglomeration of the living diatoms Fragilariopsis curta, F. cylindrus, F. pseudonana and F. rhombica to loricae of the Antarctic tintinnid ciliates Laackmanniella naviculaefera and Codonellopsis gaussi. These unusual associations between living diatoms and tintinnids were exclusively observed south of 63.59°S. We discuss the significance of our new finding and generate hypotheses to be tested by future research. It remains unclear where these living diatom–tintinnid associations are initially formed (in or near sea ice or also further north when abundances of L. naviculaefera, C. gaussi, F. curta, F. cylindrus, F. pseudonana and F. rhombica happen to be relatively high); who the beneficiary is in this association; what the exact benefits are; and how they might influence the Southern Ocean carbon cycle. Nevertheless, our observation provides a key step forward towards illuminating the largely unknown ecology of two Southern Ocean-endemic tintinnid species.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Southern Ocean, tintinnids, diatom, consortia, sea-ice, Antarctica, Fragilariopsis curta, Fragilariopsis cylindrus, Fragilariopsis pseudonana, Fragilariopsis rhombica, Laackmanniella naviculaefera, Codonellopsis gaussi |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| Objective Field: | Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| UTAS Author: | Eriksen, R (Dr Ruth Eriksen) |
| ID Code: | 118911 |
| Year Published: | 2017 |
| Deposited By: | CRC-Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems |
| Deposited On: | 2017-07-21 |
| Last Modified: | 2019-05-10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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