We have been studying animal/plant symbiosis using a model system of a single cell plant, the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium. We have cultured the two partners as a consortium as well as independently. We have been describing the life history of the newly isolated and poorly known amoeba, and investigating its interactions, with several species of these symbiotic dinoflagellates.
The interactions between the marine amoeba Trichosphaerium Am-I-7 and a variety of symbiotic and non-symbiotic dinoflagellates is being studied. The amoeba may eat specific available algae, ignore some species, and phagocytose other species but not digest them. Non symbiotic dinoflagellates were quickly digested. Symbiotic dinoflagellates especially of the genus Symbiodinium, were either avoided or phagocytosed to different extents but were not digested. Of the symbiotic dinoflagellates Symbiodinium species 8 was ...
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