A case-building Spirostomum (Ciliophora, Heterotrichida) with zoochlorellae.
A 1mm-long Spirostomum with symbiotic chlorellae has been found in the oxygen-depleted sediment of a shallow fen pond in the South of England (UK). The ciliate lives amongst sediment debris, where it builds a lorica that covers about half the length of the ciliate. It is common to find several of the green Spirostomum cells sharing the same patch of sediment particles.
Esteban
Genoveva F
GF
Queen Mary University of London, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, The River Laboratory, Dorset, UK. g.esteban@qmul.ac.uk
Bradley
Mark W
MW
Finlay
Bland J
BJ
D000818:Animals; D002708:Chlorella / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004739:England; D013559:Symbiosis