The roles of parasitic chytrids in the aquatic food web　(Miyadi Award)

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  • Kagami Maiko
    Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Toho University

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  • ツボカビを考慮に入れた湖沼食物網の解析　(宮地賞受賞者総説)
  • ツボカビを考慮に入れた湖沼食物網の解析
  • ツボカビ オ コウリョ ニ イレタ コショウ ショクモツモウ ノ カイセキ

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Abstract

Food-web studies often ignore parasites owing to their insignificant biomass. Recently, parasitic chytrids of phytoplankton were found to play an important role in aquatic food webs. This review considers the phylogenetic relationships, methodologies, algal-chytrids interactions, and roles of chytrids in food-web dynamics. Many phytoplankton species are susceptible to chytrids, which are primitive fungi characterized by zoospores. These zoospores find and infect new host cells, extract nutrients, and develop into a mature sporangium that releases new zoospores. Fungal parasitism is an important factor controlling phytoplankton seasonal succession. Chytrids can only become epidemic when they grow faster than the host. Phytoplankton are not defenseless, and several defense mechanisms have been suggested, such as a hypersensitivity response, chemical defense, and maintaining high genetic diversity. The zoospores of chytrids constitute excellent food for zooplankton in terms of both size and quality. When chytrids infect large inedible algae, they consume nutrients within the algal cells, some of which, in turn, are grazed by zooplankton. Consequently, chytrids transfer energy and nutrients from inedible algae to zooplankton, and enhance the efficiency of trophic transfer. This new pathway, the "Mycoloop", may play an important role in shaping aquatic systems.

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