LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPE OBSERVATIONS AND PREY SPECIFICITIES OF AN ALGOPHOROUS AMOEBA FROM JAPANESE FRESHWATER

[摘要] An algophorous amoeba, a species in the genus Nuclearia, was isolated from a eutrophic lake in Japan. The floating form with extremely fine radiating pseudopodia has a mean diameter of 12.5μm. The characteristic shape of this isolate is subspherical or flattened and no motile form was observed. The nucleus contains a lobed central nucleolus. Fourteen strains of bacteria, cyanobacteria and green algae were tested as prey for the isolated amoeba. There was considerable variation in the rates of their utilization. The high rates of predation by the amoeba suggest that it may be of importance in the food chains and nutrient recycling in aquatic habitat.

[学科分类] 微生物学和免疫学