Estimating how many amoebae live in the world's oceans
Marine biologist and specialist in planktonic microorganisms Dr Phil Carey is conducting research to estimate how many amoebae live in the world's oceans.
It has long been known that ciliates, which also feed on bacteria in water, make up a large population in sea water, but the suggestion that there are more amoebae in this water than previously thought may change the way we think about the carbon cycle.
The microscopic organisms which feed on bacteria in the water represent the very beginning of the food chain. The only other study to date, which has tried to estimate the numbers of these organisms in oceanic waters, took place in the 1970s when an American team of scientists estimated that there was just one amoeba in a litre of water.
But using new microscopic equipment to analyse samples, Dr Carey discovered between 1,600 and 10,000 amoebae in a litre sample of water taken during research activity in the Maldives, and is now planning further studies.
Other publications from this group
- Harding K, Lynch P T and Johnston J W (2009) Epigenetic changes associated with the cryopreservation of clonal crops. Cryo-Letters, 30, 390-391
- Parker D J and Vahed K (2009) The intensity of pre- and post-copulatory mate guarding in relation to spermatophore transfer in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. J Ethol (published online 22 July)
- Warwick S, Vahed K, Raubenheimer D and Simpson S (2009) Free amino acids as phagostimulants in cricket nuptial gifts: support for the "Candymaker" hypothesis. Biology Letters 5, 194-196
