A method for estimating cell volume of amoebae based on measurements of cell length of motile forms: physiological and ecological applications.
A novel method of estimating the cell volume of non-testate, free-living amoebae is presented. Measurements of the length (L) of motile forms of some amoebae, obtained by applying some basic rules, can be used to calculate diameter (D) using a relatively simple formula, derived from regression analysis (N=39): D=0.6L. Important physiological and ecological variables, including carbon content and respiratory rate, can then be easily calculated using this estimated cell volume.
Roger Anderson
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Biology, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964, USA. ora@LDEO.columbia.edu