1B). The feeding sequence was consistent in all observations (Fig. 1, C–L and Video S1 in the Supporting Information). Initially, the Esoptrodinium cell attached to the prey cell with what appeared

to be a cytoplasmic extension associated with the ABP (Fig. 1C). As the ABP swung outward the peduncle opening broadened, the dorsal side of the episome deformed noticeably, and the prey cell was drawn through the peduncle and deposited in a nascent episomal food vacuole (Fig. 1, D–I). Once the prey cell was fully ingested, the ABP returned to its nonfeeding proximal position along the margin of the ventral episome, closing the peduncle like the shutting of a hatch door (Fig. 1, J–L). The full phagocytic process from contact with a prey cell to complete ingestion normally lasted 5–15 s, but varied depending

on Metformin prey cell size. In dense cultures, it was common to observe numerous Esoptrodinium cells attempting to ingest a single prey cell. In these cases, a single Esoptrodinium cell normally succeeded in ingesting the entire prey cell, but occasionally the prey cell lysed and the fragments were split among multiple Esoptrodinium cells. In the absence of food cells, light intensity had a significant positive influence on the biomass of isolate UNCCP, but no influence find more on the biomass of isolates RP and HP (Fig. 2). Isolate UNCCP survived 7 d longer in high light than low light, and maintained a higher population biomass from day 2 onward. Isolates RP and HP showed no difference in biomass or survival between high light and low light, and populations of both isolates died or encysted by day 7 in each light treatment. All isolates declined in population biomass and eventually died or encysted in the absence of food, regardless of light treatment (Fig. 2). By the end of the experiment, encysted cells 上海皓元 accounted for only a small proportion (0.2%–6.7%) of the original flagellate

cell population. Cyst abundance varied by strain more than treatment, however, isolates UNCCP and RP produced a significantly higher proportion of cysts in high light than low light treatments (Fig. 3). Light had a significant positive influence on the population growth/biomass of all tested Esoptrodinium isolates in batch culture with food cells (Fig. 4). Growth curves varied by strain, but in each case Esoptrodinium grew for a greater length of time and to significantly higher biomass yields in light compared to darkness. In light, UNCCP, RP, and HP reached their maximum biomass yields on days 4, 5, and 7, respectively, whereas in darkness the maximum yields were on days 3, 3, and 1, respectively. C. ovata (food) populations in both light and darkness treatments declined in number and reached zero within 4–7 d, apparently due to grazing by the dinoflagellates. C. ovata control populations grew in light and declined in darkness, however, did not reach zero as in experimental treatments (data not shown).