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--- 2020:groups:g2:start [2019/12/16 20:00] – [Questions & Suggestions] rillo
+++ 2020:groups:g2:start [2024/01/09 18:45] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 **Group 2**
-<html><font size=6 face="Arial">Mycoloop: tasty parasites</font></html>
+<html><font size=6 face="Arial">Tasty parasites</font></html>
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 ===== Introduction =====
-Trophic interactions between phytoplankton (primary producers) and zooplankton (consumers) govern the flow of energy in marine systems. Cyanobacteria are abundant marine primary producers, and display resistance to grazing by zooplankton because of their filamentous morphologies, production of toxins and low nutritional value. However, cyanobacteria can be infected and killed by parasitic fungi (chytrids). These parasitic fungi, in turn, have a free-living zoosporic stage that is highly nutritional and an important food source for zooplankton. Thus, parasitic fungi create a trophic link between cyanobateria and zooplankton termed the "mycoloop".
-Additionally, when cyanobacteria are infected by the parasitic fungi, their morphology and nutritional value change and, consequently, they become more edible to zooplankton such as //Daphnia//.
+{{http://media.nordicmicroalgae.org/large/Planktothrix%20agardhii_1.jpg?100  |Planktothrix agardhii}} Trophic interactions between phytoplankton (primary producers) and zooplankton (consumers) govern the flow of energy in aquatic systems. //Planktothrix agardhii// is an abundant aquatic cyanobacteria that can form algal blooms in freshwater lakes.
-**(to be continued)**
+{{  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Daphnia_pulex.png?100|Daphnia sp.}}  This small phytoplanktonic species displays resistance to grazing by zooplankton such as //Daphnia galeata// because of its filamentous morphology, production of toxins and low nutritional value. However, //Planktothrix// can be infected and killed by the obligate parasite //Rhizophydium megarrhizum//, a chytrid fungus. These parasitic fungi, in turn, have a free-living stage that is highly nutritional and an important food source for zooplankton. Thus, parasitic //Rhizophydium// fungi create an important trophic link between cyanobacteria and zooplankton termed the "//mycoloop//" (Agha et al. 2016).
+{{:2020:groups:g2:polycentric-chytrid-feeding-on-filamentous-cyanobacteria-after-karling-1977.png?150 |Chytrid fungi feeding on filamentous cyanobacteria, Karling, J.S. (1977) Chytridiomycetarium Iconographia.}}Additionally, when //Planktothrix//  cells are infected by //Rhizophydium//, their morphology and nutritional value change and, consequently, they become more edible to //Daphnia//. This way, //Rhizophydium// infection facilitates the grazing of //Planktothrix// by //Daphnia//, further strengthening the trophic link between phytoplankton and zooplankton.
 ===== Assignment =====
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 Propose and analyse a mathematical model that describes the trophic dynamics among cyanobacteria (primary producer/host), chytrids (parasite/prey) and zooplankton (grazer/predator).
-===== Questions & Suggestions =====
+===== Suggested questions =====
+  - Under what conditions can cyanobacteria, chytrid fungi and zooplankton coexist?
+  - Under what conditions do cyanobacteria blooms form?
+Further well-grounded questions from the group are welcome.
-(1) Under what conditions can cyanobacteria, chytrids and zooplankton coexist? \\
-(2) Under what conditions do cyanobacteria blooms form?
 ===== References =====
-R. Agha, M. Saebelfeld, C. Manthey, T. Rohrlack and J. Wolinska. (2016) Chytrid parasitism facilitates trophic transfer between bloom-forming cyanobacteria and zooplankton (Daphnia). Scientific Reports 6:35039 DOI: [[https://www.doi.org/10.1038/srep35039|10.1038/srep35039]].
+T. Frenken  et al. (2017) Integrating chytrid fungal parasites into plankton ecology: research gaps and needs. Environ Microbiol, 19: 3802-3822. DOI: [[https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13827|10.1111/1462-2920.13827]]
+R. Agha, M. Saebelfeld, C. Manthey, T. Rohrlack and J. Wolinska. (2016) Chytrid parasitism facilitates trophic transfer between bloom-forming cyanobacteria and zooplankton (//Daphnia//). Scientific Reports 6:35039 DOI: [[https://www.doi.org/10.1038/srep35039|10.1038/srep35039]]. \\