Sex in the wild: repeated observations of planktonic ciliate conjugation from field samples
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Ciliate conjugation is considered a rare event to encounter in the field and it is mostly reported from cultures. In this work, we describe a synchronized conjugation event of planktonic ciliates that was discovered twice; in September 2019, at two different locations in the Cretan Sea, Eastern Mediterranean, and in October 2020. In 2019, first, at 2 m depth of the coastal station POSEIDON-HCB, in samples fixed with acid Lugol and formaldehyde, we found 340 and 200 mating pairs L(-1)of different ciliate species, respectively; and second, at the Heraklion port, we found 220 mating pairs L-1 of Strombidinopsis sp. and 1960 mating pairs L-1 of Strombidium sp. At the Heraklion port visited again in 2020, we found 800 mating pairs L-1 of Strombidinopsis sp. and 200 mating pairs L-1 of Strombidium sp. Since detailed descriptions of conjugation in pelagic oligotrich ciliates are missing, our observations indicate that ciliate conjugation could be a frequent and periodic phenomenon, under specific conditions.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Plankton Research |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 333-336 |
Number of pages | 4 |
ISSN | 0142-7873 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
- ciliate conjugation, planktonic ciliates, field samples, synchronized life cycle, AUTOGAMY, RHYTHM
Research areas
ID: 300899998