Connecting alveolate cell biology with trophic ecology in the marine plankton using the ciliate Favella as a model

摘要: Planktonic alveolates (ciliates and dinoflagellates), key trophic links in marine planktonic communities, exhibit complex behaviors that are underappreciated by microbiologists ecologists. Furthermore, the physiological mechanisms underlying these still poorly understood except a few freshwater model ciliates, which significantly different cell structure behavior than species. Here, we argue for an interdisciplinary research approach to connect with population-level outcomes of behaviors. Presenting tintinnid ciliate Favella as alveolate, review its population ecology, behavior, cellular/molecular biology context sensory synthesize past current findings construct conceptual describing Favella. We discuss how emerging genomic information new technical methods integrating across levels biological organization paving way rapid advance. These approaches will yield deeper understanding role may play biogeochemical cycles, they respond future ocean conditions.