Ref ID : 7057
Andrew Rogerson; The ecological energetics of Amoeba proteus (Protozoa). Hydrobiologia 85:117-128, 1981
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The consumptipn, production and respiration of Amoeba proteus were measured in the laboratory for cells cultured over a range of Tetrahymena pyriformis concentrations (125-4000 cells/0.5 ml) at 10, 15 and 20 degrees C. Differences were attributed to both temperature and prey availability. A series of generation energy budgets were constructed for amoebae grown under the above conditions. The biological efficiencies linking the parameters of the budget equation were calculated. Assimilation efficiencies ranged from 22-59% regardless of temperature. Net production efficiencies were high at 15 and 20 degrees C (65-82%) but low at 10 degrees C (11-49%). Gross production efficiencies were also higher at 15 and 20 degrees C (16-47%) than at 10 degrees C (4-29%). The ecological implications of this investigation are discussed.