Sinking properties of some phytoplankton shapes and the relation of form resistance to morphological diversity of plankton-an experimental study

摘要

Form resistance (PHI) is a dimensionless number expressing how much slower or faster a particle of any form sinks in a fluid medoium than the sphere of equivalent volume.Form resistance factors of PVC models of phytoplankton sinking in glycerin were measured in a large aquarium (0.6X0.6X0.95 m).For cylindrical forms,a positive relationship was found between PHI and length/width ratio.Coling decreased PHI in filamentous forms.Form resistance of Asterionella colonies increased from single cells uop to 6-celled colonies than remained nearly constant.For Fragilaria crotonensis chains,no such upper limit to PHI was observed in chains of up to 20 cells (longer ones were not measured).The effect of symmetry on PHI was tested in 1-6-celled Asterionella colonies,having variable angles between the cells,and in Tetrastrum staurogeniaeforme coenobia,having different spine arrangements.In all cases,symmetric forms had considerably higher form resistance than symmetric ones.However,for Pediastrum coenobia with symmetric/asymmetric fenestration,no difference was observed with respect to symmetry.Increasing number and length of spines on Tetrastrum coenobia substantially increased PHI.For a series of Staurastrum forms,a significant positive correlation was found between arm-length/cell-width ratio and PHI:protuberances increased form resistance.Flagellates (Rhodomonas,Gymmodinium) had a PHI<1:they sank faster than thes pheres of equivalent volume.Ceratium (PHI=1.61) proved an exception among flagellates:in most forms tested in this study (ellipsoid flagellates,Staurastrum forms with no ro very short protuberances,and Cosmarium forms),PHI>1.The highest value (PHI=8.1) was established for a 20-celled Fragilaria crotonensis chain.Possible origin of the so-called 'vital component' (a factor that shows how much slower viable populations skin than morphologically similar senescent or dead ones) is discussed,as is the role of form resistance in evolution of high diversity of plankton morphologies.