Ingestion and digestion of cyanobacteria (Anabaena sp.) by the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus
Major
Biology
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Biology
Faculty Advisor
Will Jaeckle
Location
CNS Atrium
Start Date
4-11-2026 8:30 AM
End Date
4-11-2026 9:45 AM
Abstract
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems all over the world. Fertilizer runoffs and industrial pollution, as well as climate change, can contribute to promoting the exponential growth of harmful algae and cyanobacteria in bodies of water by introducing excessive concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus (Brenckman et al., 2025). Brachionus calyciflorus is a freshwater rotifer that feeds on many different types and sizes of algal cells, as well as cyanobacterial filaments of Anabaena sp. (Gilbert, 2022), a species that can form HABs in freshwater lakes. We used fluorescence microscopy to examine the ability of Brachionus calyciflorus to capture, digest, and assimilate cyanobacterial filaments, or determine whether these cells are simply captured and later excreted. Our current results suggest that Anabaena cells and filaments are consistently ingested and digested by B. calyciflorus. Although variable among experiments, we saw evidence of fluorescence within the animal, but outside of the digestive system, suggesting that assimilated materials are distributed to other parts of the body. Future study is needed to determine if Anabaena can serve as a significant source of nutrition for Brachionus calyciflorus and if so, how it compares to other types of food sources.
Ingestion and digestion of cyanobacteria (Anabaena sp.) by the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus
CNS Atrium
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems all over the world. Fertilizer runoffs and industrial pollution, as well as climate change, can contribute to promoting the exponential growth of harmful algae and cyanobacteria in bodies of water by introducing excessive concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus (Brenckman et al., 2025). Brachionus calyciflorus is a freshwater rotifer that feeds on many different types and sizes of algal cells, as well as cyanobacterial filaments of Anabaena sp. (Gilbert, 2022), a species that can form HABs in freshwater lakes. We used fluorescence microscopy to examine the ability of Brachionus calyciflorus to capture, digest, and assimilate cyanobacterial filaments, or determine whether these cells are simply captured and later excreted. Our current results suggest that Anabaena cells and filaments are consistently ingested and digested by B. calyciflorus. Although variable among experiments, we saw evidence of fluorescence within the animal, but outside of the digestive system, suggesting that assimilated materials are distributed to other parts of the body. Future study is needed to determine if Anabaena can serve as a significant source of nutrition for Brachionus calyciflorus and if so, how it compares to other types of food sources.