RUI: Physiology and Ecology of Diatom Motility

[407279] Cohn这个项目的目的是更好地了解一种普遍存在的、生态上重要的藻类——硅藻——的细胞运动的机制和生态作用。硅藻是许多水生食物链中最丰富的主要食物来源之一，它们在沉积物中移动的能力被认为是它们生态成功的重要因素。尽管这些细胞被限制在坚硬的玻璃状细胞壁内，限制了内部细胞与运动表面之间的任何直接接触，但它们仍能产生运动。本项目旨在确定硅藻运动的生态功能及其调控因素：1)利用计算机辅助视频显微镜系统定量分析各种环境条件下硅藻运动的特征；2)对具有不同细胞壁特征和形状的不同硅藻种类的运动进行比较分析；3)进行竞争实验，以确定混合种群中不同硅藻物种进行垂直移动和竞争有限资源（如空间、光线或营养）的相对能力。这些研究将有助于确定硅藻的一些特性，包括：影响硅藻运动的环境因素和条件；适应能力：硅藻在环境条件的变化中生存或适应的能力；不同物种为了争夺有限的资源，如光和营养物质而进行的运动。* * *

9407279 Cohn This project is designed to better understand the mechanism and ecological role of cell movement in a ubiquitous and ecologically important group of algae known as diatoms. Diatoms are among the most abundant primary food sources in many aquatic food chains, and their ability to move within the sediment is believed to be important to their ecological success. These cells can generate movement despite being confined within a hardened glass-like cell wall that restricts any direct contact between the inner cell and the surface over which it moves. This project is designed to help determine the ecological functions of diatom movement and the factors which regulate this movement by: 1) using a computer-assisted video microscope system to quantitatively analyze the characteristics of diatom movement under a variety of environmental conditions; 2) performing comparative analysis of the movement of different diatom species displaying a variety of cell wall features and shapes; and 3) performing competition experiments to determine the relative abilities of different diatom species in a mixed population to undergo vertical movements and compete for limited resources (e.g., space, light or nutrients). These studies should help to determine a number of diatom properties including: the environmental cues and conditions which affect diatom movement; the ability of diatoms to survive or become acclimated over time changes in environmental conditions; and the type of movements undertaken by various species to try and compete for limited resources such as light and nutrients. ***