Paramecium sp. feeding on bacteria
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Re: Paramecium sp. feeding on bacteria
Quite interesting and surprising how the very concentrated colony was able to re-consolidate very quickly after each episode of disturbance; lastly as a very well described ring. The mechanism of that behaviour, I would like to know.
By the way it became disturbed, the design of the streaming , it seems that there was some degree of surface tension involved, some bioslime which aided in re-establishing a coherent form.
By the way it became disturbed, the design of the streaming , it seems that there was some degree of surface tension involved, some bioslime which aided in re-establishing a coherent form.
Re: Paramecium sp. feeding on bacteria
No idea how it happens but I've seen this behavior even at very large colonies, they are forming this kind of borders over areas leaving the interior completely empty, not necessarily ring shaped.
Re: Paramecium sp. feeding on bacteria
Great catch and video. The concentration of the bacteria reminded me of a shoal of fish.
Apparently fish shoal because there is safety in numbers - if you are on your own, you get eaten - in a group your neighbor gets eaten ... mostly.
Apparently fish shoal because there is safety in numbers - if you are on your own, you get eaten - in a group your neighbor gets eaten ... mostly.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Re: Paramecium sp. feeding on bacteria
Beautiful and astounding video; well done!
The ring-shaped formations may be an artifact of the squished environment under the coverglass and the presence of predators inside the bacterial formation: since they (the bacteria) can't move in the Z direction, but only in X and Y, they can't move the globular swarm away from the little predators (the little yellow guys in the midst of the rings) in three dimensions, but can only form a ring to get away.
The swarming bacteria must be communicating rapidly somehow to effect such a fast-acting swarm. Birds & fish swarm by watching the leader(s); the bacteria must do it by getting signals from somewhere.
May or may not be pertinent:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/arti ... mmunicate/
The ring-shaped formations may be an artifact of the squished environment under the coverglass and the presence of predators inside the bacterial formation: since they (the bacteria) can't move in the Z direction, but only in X and Y, they can't move the globular swarm away from the little predators (the little yellow guys in the midst of the rings) in three dimensions, but can only form a ring to get away.
The swarming bacteria must be communicating rapidly somehow to effect such a fast-acting swarm. Birds & fish swarm by watching the leader(s); the bacteria must do it by getting signals from somewhere.
May or may not be pertinent:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/arti ... mmunicate/
Re: Paramecium sp. feeding on bacteria
Also, a recent study in Biophysics showed that fishes in shoal increase the overall speed of the group (can't find the study...). Also, it was proven that shoaling was more effective in terms of decision making, compared to being alone (study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-27807-1)
Anyways, I loved the footage !
Edit: wporter was a bit quicker than me
Anyways, I loved the footage !
Edit: wporter was a bit quicker than me
Re: Paramecium sp. feeding on bacteria
amazing video its fascinating
Re: Paramecium sp. feeding on bacteria
Thanks a lot guys, I always thought that there must be a chemical way of communication between the bacteria similar with pheromone system in animals.
No idea if I'm right, don't really have time to look for studies abut this but I bet there are people that can answer the question.
No idea if I'm right, don't really have time to look for studies abut this but I bet there are people that can answer the question.
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Re: Paramecium sp. feeding on bacteria
It's in the bioslime.