Influence of temperature, oxygen and food availability on the migrational activity of bathyal benthic foraminifera: evidence by microcosm experiments
Gross, O. (2000). Influence of temperature, oxygen and food availability on the migrational activity of bathyal benthic foraminifera: evidence by microcosm experiments. Hydrobiologia 426: 123-137. https://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1003930831220
In: Hydrobiologia. Springer: The Hague. ISSN 0018-8158; e-ISSN 1573-5117, more
Related to:Gross, O. (2000). Influence of temperature, oxygen and food availability on the migrational activity of bathyal benthic foraminifera: evidence by microcosm experiments, in: Liebezeit, G. et al. Life at Interfaces and Under Extreme Conditions: Proceedings of the 33rd European Marine Biology Symposium, Wilhelmshaven, Germany, 7-11 September 1998. Developments in Hydrobiology, 151: pp. 123-137. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4148-2_12, more
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| Keywords |
Behaviour > Migrations
Chemical elements > Nonmetals > Atmospheric gases > Oxygen
Food
Properties > Physical properties > Thermodynamic properties > Temperature
Research > Experimental research
Water > Deep water
Hoeglundina elegans (d'Orbigny, 1826) [WoRMS]; Quinqueloculina lamarckiana d'Orbigny, 1839 [WoRMS]; Quinqueloculina seminulum (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
Foraminifera are a dominant group of amoeboid protists in the deep-sea and play possibly a significant role in decomposition processes of incoming organic matter. In order to study the poorly known ecology of these protozoans, microcosm experiments with living bathyal benthic foraminifera have been conducted. Foraminifera from 2880 m and shallower water depths were successfully maintained and their movement patterns investigated. By video documentation, high mean migration speed of 20,02 (N = 22) and 24,48 µm min-1 (N = 10) at 4 °C were found for species such as Hoeglundina elegans and Quinqueloculina seminula from 1847 m and 1921 m water depth, respectively. The results demonstrate that some bathyal foraminifera have migration speeds comparable to those of shallow water species. Environmental factors such as temperature, food concentration and oxygen content showed a marked influence on the migration of some species. An increase in temperature from 10 °C to 15 °C resulted in an increase of 35% in the migration speed of Allogromia spp. However, other species reacted differently. Higher food concentration resulted in a decrease in speed of some species. While in Quinqueloculina lamarckiana speed was not greatly affected by a low oxygen content in the sediment, other foraminifera responded to oxygen depletion by migration to the surface layers. Observations of benthic foraminifera in the laboratory microcosms are discussed in relation to microhabitats and the fate of organic matter on the sea floor and in the sediment. |
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