For instance, if conditions suddenly became unfavorable for them due to inundation with sediment, could they produce resting cysts by the hundreds or thousandsin a matter of days?
Temperature plays an important role as the driving abiotic factor in this change. Not sure about inundation with sediment. You can try both of these on a pilot scale.
So, a sudden drop in temperature or a sudden increase in temperature? Thanks Chandravadan.
Water having the maximum specific heat it takes enough amount of time to lower or raise its temperature. Hence it has to be seen how the temperature increase or decrease as per change of seasons, pan out in your area of study. Simulate the same difference over that period of time & you will get the result. You may also shorten the time period by increasing the difference by a very small margin so as to accelerate in getting the results. Hence a sudden increase or decrease in temperature will not be tolerated by these microscope forms, which will result in their death.
Hello Joanne,
The formation of cysts is part of the life-cycle of dinoflagellate and chrysophyte algae. In some lakes, seasonal layers that are composed almost entirely of dinocysts and/or chrysophyte cysts are formed every year in the sediment record. In the lake I studied, this was at the end of the autumn for dinocysts, while the chrysophyte cysts were more abundant in spring. The environmental cue that triggers the formation of cysts can also be the concentration of nutrients (e.g. nitrogen), not just temperature. See the following publication for more details:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227310807_Dinocyst_microlaminations_and_freshwater_red_tides_recorded_in_Lake_Xiaolongwan_northeastern_China
Article Dinocyst microlaminations and freshwater "red tides" recorde...
Hi Patrick,
Thanks, very interesting response. I wonder if wood ash input following a wildfire would have the same response? A nitrogen input is part of my hypothesis for this site in the southeastern USA. I can potentially test it with my N Isotope and total N data but I need higher resolution samples... Thanks for your paper, it looks intriguing.
Haven't read it yet...
Hi Joanne,
I also remember reading in some papers that inputs of organic carbon was found to stimulate blooms of dinoflagellates. The Chinese lake my colleagues and I studied has relatively high DOC content. I hope you'll find some explanation relevant for your study site. Best wishes, Patrick
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