Work

Broad‐range necrophytophagy in the flagellate Orciraptor agilis (Viridiraptoridae, Cercozoa) and the underappreciated role of scavenging among protists

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Protists show diverse lifestyles and fulfill important ecological roles as primary producers, predators, symbionts, and parasites. The degradation of dead microbial biomass, instead, is mainly attributed to bacteria and fungi, while necrophagy by protists remains poorly recognized. Here, we assessed the food range specificity and feeding behavior of the algivorous flagellate Orciraptor agilis (Viridiraptoridae, Cercozoa) with a large-scale feeding experiment. We demonstrate that this species is a broad-range necrophage, which feeds on a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic algae, but fails to grow on the tested fungi. Furthermore, our microscopic observations reveal an unexpected flexibility of O. agilis in handling food items of different structures and biochemistry, demonstrating that sophisticated feeding strategies in protists do not necessarily indicate narrow food ranges.

Source: Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology

DOI: 10.1111/jeu.13065

Authors: Jannika Moye, Sebastian Hess

Institution: Technische Universität Darmstadt

Language: English

Topic: Protist diversity and phylogeny

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft