RUI: Physiology and Ecology of Diatom Motility

小行星9407279 该项目旨在更好地了解细胞运动的机制和生态作用，在一个普遍存在的和生态上重要的藻类称为硅藻组。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其生态成功的重要因素。这些细胞可以产生运动，尽管被限制在硬化的玻璃状细胞壁内，限制了内部细胞与其移动的表面之间的任何直接接触。本项目旨在通过以下方法来帮助确定硅藻运动的生态功能和调节这种运动的因素：1）使用计算机辅助视频显微镜系统来定量分析硅藻在各种环境条件下的运动特征; 2）对不同种类的硅藻表现出不同的细胞壁特征和形状的运动进行比较分析;和3）进行竞争实验以确定混合种群中不同硅藻物种经历垂直运动和竞争有限资源的相对能力（例如，空间、光或营养物）。 这些研究应该有助于确定一些硅藻的特性，包括：影响硅藻运动的环境线索和条件;硅藻随着时间的推移生存或适应环境条件变化的能力;以及各种物种为争夺有限的资源（如光和营养）而进行的运动类型。 ***

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. ***