Name: fluorescently labeled bacteria as a tracer to reveal novel pathways of organic carbon flow in aquatic ecosystems
Uploaded: 2019-09-13T14:00:00
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This study was supported by the Czech Science Foundation under the research grant 13-00243S and 19-16554S awarded to K. &#352;. and D. S., respectively. This article was also supported by the project &#34;Biomanipulation as a tool for improving water quality of dam reservoirs&#34;&#160;(No CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_025/0007417), funded by the European Regional Development Fund, in Operational Programme Research, Development and Education.

1. Sample collection
<ol>
	<li>Collection of reservoir water sample: the first case study (Exp I; lower natural in situ predator and prey abundance system)
	<ol>
		<li>Collect water samples from the desired location at a suitable depth. Keep the samples in a temperature-controlled cooler filled at in situ temperature (avoiding temperature shock; it should be noted that uptake rates of protists are temperature-dependent) during transport to the laboratory. 
		NOTE: Our sampling was conducted in the...

<ol>
	<li>Azam, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+ecological+role+of+water-column+microbes+in+the+sea.">The ecological role of water-column microbes in the sea.</a> Marine Ecology Progress Series. 10, 257-263 (1983).</li><li>&#352;imek, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+finely+tuned+symphony+of+factors+modulates+the+microbial+food+web+of+a+freshwater+reservoir+in+spring.">A finely tuned symphony of factors modulates the microbial food web of a freshwater reservoir in spring.</a> Limnology &amp; Oceanography. 59, 1477-1492 (2014).</li><li>&#352;imek, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bacterial+prey+food+characteristics+modulate+community+growth+response+of+freshwater+bacterivorous+flagellates.">Bacterial prey food characteristics modulate community growth response of freshwater bacterivorous flagellates.</a> Limnology &amp; Oceanography. 63, 484-502 (2018).</li><li>&#352;imek, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Changes+in+bacterial+community+composition,+dynamics+and+viral+mortality+rates+associated+with+enhanced+flagellate+grazing+in+a+meso-eutrophic+reservoir.">Changes in bacterial community composition, dynamics and viral mortality rates associated with enhanced flagellate grazing in a meso-eutrophic reservoir.</a> Applied &amp; Environmental Microbiology. 67, 2723-2733 (2001).</li><li>J&#252;rgens, K., Matz, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Predation+as+a+shaping+force+for+the+phenotypic+and+genotypic+composition+of+planktonic+bacteria.">Predation as a shaping force for the phenotypic and genotypic composition of planktonic bacteria.</a> Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 81, 413-434 (2002).</li><li>Pernthaler, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Predation+on+prokaryotes+in+the+water+column+and+its+ecological+implications.">Predation on prokaryotes in the water column and its ecological implications.</a> Nature Reviews Microbiology. 3, 537-546 (2005).</li><li>Berninger, U. B., Finlay, J., Kuuppo-Leinikki, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protozoan+control+of+bacterial+abundances+in+freshwaters.">Protozoan control of bacterial abundances in freshwaters.</a> Limnology and Oceanography. 36, 139-147 (1991).</li><li>Sherr, E. B., Sherr, B. F., Kemp, P. F., Sherr, B. F., Sherr, E. B., Cole, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protistan+grazing+rates+via+uptake+of+fluorescently+labeled+prey.">Protistan grazing rates via uptake of fluorescently labeled prey.</a> Handbook of Methods in Aquatic Microbial Ecology. , 695-701 (1993).</li><li>Vazquez-Dominguez, E., Peters, F., Gasol, J. M., Vaqu&#233;, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measuring+the+grazing+losses+of+picoplankton:+methodological+improvements+in+the+use+of+fluorescently+tracers+combined+with+flow+cytometry.">Measuring the grazing losses of picoplankton: methodological improvements in the use of fluorescently tracers combined with flow cytometry.</a> Aquatic Microbial Ecology. 20, 119-128 (1999).</li><li>&#352;imek, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ecological+role+and+bacterial+grazing+of+Halteria+spp.:+Small+oligotrichs+as+dominant+pelagic+ciliate+bacterivores.">Ecological role and bacterial grazing of Halteria spp.: Small oligotrichs as dominant pelagic ciliate bacterivores.</a> Aquatic Microbial Ecology. 22, 43-56 (2000).</li><li>Montagnes, D. J. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Selective+feeding+behaviour+of+key+free-living+protists:+avenues+for+continued+study.">Selective feeding behaviour of key free-living protists: avenues for continued study.</a> Aquatic Microbial Ecology. 53, 83-98 (2008).</li><li>Kirchman, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Processes in Microbial Ecology. 2nd Edition. , (2018).</li><li>Porter, K. G., Feig, Y. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+use+of+DAPI+for+identifying+and+counting+aquatic+microflora.">The use of DAPI for identifying and counting aquatic microflora.</a> Limnology and Oceanography. 25, 943-948 (1980).</li><li>Foissner, W., Berger, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+user-friendly+guide+to+the+ciliates+(Protozoa,+Ciliophora)+commonly+used+by+hydrobiologists+as+bioindicators+in+rivers,+lakes,+and+waste+waters,+with+notes+on+their+ecology.">A user-friendly guide to the ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) commonly used by hydrobiologists as bioindicators in rivers, lakes, and waste waters, with notes on their ecology.</a> Freshwater Biology. 35, 375-482 (1996).</li><li>Foissner, W., Berger, H., Schaumburg, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+and+ecology+of+limnetic+plankton+ciliates.">Identification and ecology of limnetic plankton ciliates.</a> Informationsberichte des Bayer Landesamtes f&#252;r Wasserwirtschaft Heft. , 3-99 (1999).</li><li>&#352;imek, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ciliate+grazing+on+picoplankton+in+a+eutrophic+reservoir+during+the+summer+phytoplankton+maximum:+a+study+at+the+species+and+community+level.">Ciliate grazing on picoplankton in a eutrophic reservoir during the summer phytoplankton maximum: a study at the species and community level.</a> Limnology &amp; Oceanography. 40, 1077-1090 (1995).</li><li>Skibbe, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+improved+quantitative+protargol+stain+for+ciliates+and+other+planktonic+protists.">An improved quantitative protargol stain for ciliates and other planktonic protists.</a> Archiv f&#252;r. Hydrobiolgie. 130, 339-347 (1994).</li><li>Macek, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Growth+rates+of+dominant+planktonic+ciliates+in+two+freshwater+bodies+of+different+trophic+degree.">Growth rates of dominant planktonic ciliates in two freshwater bodies of different trophic degree.</a> Journal of Plankton Research. 18, 463-481 (1996).</li><li>Šimek, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microbial+food+webs+in+hypertrophic+fishponds:+omnivorous+ciliate+taxa+are+major+protistan+bacterivores.">Microbial food webs in hypertrophic fishponds: omnivorous ciliate taxa are major protistan bacterivores.</a> Limnology &amp; Oceanography. , (2019).</li><li>Jezbera, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Major+freshwater+bacterioplankton+groups:+Contrasting+trends+in+distribution+of+Limnohabitans+and+Polynucleobacter+lineages+along+a+pH+gradient+of+72+habitats.">Major freshwater bacterioplankton groups: Contrasting trends in distribution of Limnohabitans and Polynucleobacter lineages along a pH gradient of 72 habitats.</a> FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 81, 467-479 (2012).</li><li>Kasalick&#253;, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+diversity+of+the+Limnohabitans+genus,+an+important+group+of+freshwater+bacterioplankton,+by+characterization+of+35+isolated+strains.">The diversity of the Limnohabitans genus, an important group of freshwater bacterioplankton, by characterization of 35 isolated strains.</a> PLoS One. 8, 58209 (2013).</li><li>Stabell, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ciliate+bacterivory+in+epilimnetic+waters.">Ciliate bacterivory in epilimnetic waters.</a> Aquatic Microbial Ecology. 10, 265-272 (1996).</li><li>Zingel, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ciliates+are+the+dominant+grazers+on+pico-+and+nanoplankton+in+a+shallow,+naturally+highly+eutrophic+lake.">Ciliates are the dominant grazers on pico- and nanoplankton in a shallow, naturally highly eutrophic lake.</a> Microbial Ecology. 53, 134-142 (2007).</li><li>Bickel, S. L., Tang, K. W., Grossart, H. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ciliate+epibionts+associated+with+crustacean+zooplankton+in+german+lakes:+distribution,+motility,+and+bacterivory.">Ciliate epibionts associated with crustacean zooplankton in german lakes: distribution, motility, and bacterivory.</a> Frontiers in Microbiology. 3 (243), (2012).</li><li>Sirov&#225;, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hunters+or+gardeners?+Linking+community+structure+and+function+of+trap-associated+microbes+to+the+nutrient+acquisition+strategy+of+a+carnivorous+plant.">Hunters or gardeners? Linking community structure and function of trap-associated microbes to the nutrient acquisition strategy of a carnivorous plant.</a> Microbiome. 6, 225 (2018).</li><li>&#352;imek, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ecological+traits+of+a+zoochlorellae-bearing+Tetrahymena+sp.+(Ciliophora)+living+in+traps+of+the+carnivorous+aquatic+plant+Utricularia+reflexa.">Ecological traits of a zoochlorellae-bearing Tetrahymena sp. (Ciliophora) living in traps of the carnivorous aquatic plant Utricularia reflexa.</a> Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. 64, 336-348 (2017).</li><li>Pitsch, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+green+Tetrahymena+utriculariae+n.+sp.+(Ciliophora,+Oligohymenophorea)+with+its+endosymbiotic+algae+(Micractinium+sp.),+living+in+the+feeding+traps+of+a+carnivorous+aquatic+plant.">The green Tetrahymena utriculariae n. sp. (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) with its endosymbiotic algae (Micractinium sp.), living in the feeding traps of a carnivorous aquatic plant.</a> Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. 64, 322-335 (2017).</li><li>Nielsen, J. M., Clare, E. L., Hayden, B., Brett, M. T., Kratina, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diet+tracing+in+ecology:+Method+comparison+and+selection.">Diet tracing in ecology: Method comparison and selection.</a> Methods in Ecology and Evaluation. 9, 278-291 (2018).</li><li>Beisner, B. E., Grossart, H. P., Gasol, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+guide+to+methods+for+estimating+phago-mixotrophy+in+nanophytoplankton.">A guide to methods for estimating phago-mixotrophy in nanophytoplankton.</a> Journal of Plankton Research. , 1-13 (2019).</li><li>Dolan, J. D., &#352;imek, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Processing+of+ingested+matter+in+Strombidium+sulcatum,+a+marine+ciliate+(Oligotrichida).">Processing of ingested matter in Strombidium sulcatum, a marine ciliate (Oligotrichida).</a> Limnology and Oceanography. 42, 393-397 (1997).</li><li>Massana, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Grazing+rates+and+functional+diversity+of+uncultured+heterotrophic+flagellates.">Grazing rates and functional diversity of uncultured heterotrophic flagellates.</a> The ISME Journal. 3, 588-596 (2009).</li><li>Gruj&#269;i&#263;, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cryptophyta+as+major+freshwater+bacterivores+in+experiments+with+manipulated+bacterial+prey.">Cryptophyta as major freshwater bacterivores in experiments with manipulated bacterial prey.</a> The ISME Journal. 12, 1668-1681 (2018).</li></ol>

Deciphering trophic interaction in aquatic systems is always challenging28, especially at the nano-plankton scales involving protists and their prey, bacteria. When it comes to nutrient uptake pathways and quantification, the application of methods successfully used at higher trophic levels is less possible, due to the high complexity of biotic interactions. These include, for example, stable isotope labeling approaches. This protocol shows the advantages of using epifluorescence microscopy and fl...

Heterotrophic prokaryotes are a key biological component in aquatic systems and account for a significant fraction of plankton biomass1,2,3. Factors that control their abundance, diversity, and activity are crucial for understanding their role in biogeochemical cycling (i.e., the fate of organic carbon and other nutrients and flow of energy from prokaryotes to higher trophic levels). Protozoan grazing is one of these important factors. Bacterivory&#160;of heterotrophic nanoflagellates and ciliates imposes a strong top-down control over prokaryotic abundance, community function, structure, diversity, and even cellular morphology and growth rate of particular bacterial groups4,5,6. In some systems, protists serve as the major cause of bacterial mortality6,7.
The standard approach used to assess protozoan bacterivory, which has been used for some time now, involves the use of fluorescently labeled bacteria (FLB) as prey analogues and epifluorescence microscopy. Cell-specific uptake rates can be determined by quantifying the number of labeled prey particles in protistan food vacuoles over a selected time course8. There are several advantages to this approach. Tracer is added to natural samples with natural predator and prey assemblages. There is minimum sample manipulation prior to incubation, minimum sample alteration by the added FLB tracer, and incubation times are short to ensure sound results obtained under close to in situ conditions. Alternatively, in environments with low numbers of bacterivorous protists or zooplankton (e.g., offshore marine systems), disappearance rates of FLB added to samples in low amounts (2%-3% tracer) can be detected via flow cytometry in long-term (12-24 h) incubation experiments. Then, numbers of FLB at the start and end points (integrating the impact of all bacterivores) are quantified by flow cytometry (for details, see previous publication9). However, such a parameter only represents total aggregated bacterivory rates that cannot be directly attributed to any particular protistan and zooplankton grazer groups or species.
Overall, quantifying the protistan species- or morphotype-specific bacterial mortality rates in the aquatic environment accurately and with ecological meaning can be challenging. Some protists are selective grazers, and the size and cell shape of the added FLB tracer may distort natural rates of prey ingestion10,11. Moreover, protistan activity and metabolism are highly temperature-sensitive12; therefore, the amount of added FLB tracer needs to be carefully manipulated for each individual sample type (not only based on the natural abundance, size, and morphology of bacteria and prevailing types of bacterivores, but also on temperature). Most studies focus on bulk protistan grazing activity; however, the bacterivory of specific protistan species often holds a much higher information value and may be preferable. In this case, taxonomic knowledge of the protist species present in a sample and understanding of their behavior is needed. Hence, considerable amounts of time and labor are required to obtain sound results on species-specific rates of bacterivory attributable to a particular protistan group or species.
Despite these difficulties, this approach remains the most suitable tool currently available to assess protistan bacterivory in natural settings. Presented here is a comprehensive, easy-to-follow method for using FLB as a tracer in aquatic microbial ecology studies. All of the mentioned problematic aspects of the approach are accounted for and an improved workflow is described, with two experiments from contrasting environments as well as contrasting ciliate species as examples.
The first case study was conducted in an epilimnetic environment from the mesotrophic &#344;&#237;mov water reservoir in the Czech Republic, which shows grazer and bacterial abundances comparable to most surface freshwater bodies (cf.5,7). The second case study was conducted in the highly specific environment inside traps of the aquatic carnivorous plant Utricularia reflexa, which hosts extremely high numbers of both grazing mixotrophic ciliates (Tetrahymena utriculariae) and bacterial cells. Calculations of cell-specific grazing rates and bacterial standing stocks in both sample types are shown. A range of ecological interpretations of the results is then discussed, and examples of possible follow-up studies are finally suggested.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:1612px;" width="1611">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;width:360px;">0.2-&#181;m pore-size filters&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:462px;">SPI supplies, https://www.2spi.com/</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">B0225-MB</td>
			<td style="width:654px;">Black, polycarbonate track etch membrane filters, diameter approprite for filtering apparatus used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">5-(4,6-dichlorotriazin-2-yl) aminofluorescein (DTAF)</td>
			<td>Any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Automatic pipettes with adjustable volumes&#160;</td>
			<td>Any brand, various sizes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Centrifuge</td>
			<td>22 000 x g</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Cryovials</td>
			<td>Any brand, 2 mL size</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;">DAPI (4&#180;,6-Diamidino-2&#180;-phenylindole dihydrochloride)</td>
			<td>Any brand&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>1 mg ml-1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Epiflorescence microscope</td>
			<td>Magnification from 400 x up to 1000 x</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;"></td>
			<td>Filters appropriate for viewing in the DAPI and DTAF range</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;"></td>
			<td>Counting grid in one of the oculars</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Filtering apparatus</td>
			<td>Usually with a diameter of 25 mm&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Formaldehyde</td>
			<td>A brand for microscopy</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Glutaraldehyde</td>
			<td>A brand for microscopy</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Immersion oil for microscopy</td>
			<td>Specific oil with low fluorescence</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="58">
			<td height="58" style="height:58px;">Lugol&#180;s solution</td>
			<td>Any brand or see comment</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:654px;">Make an alkaline Lugol&#39; solution as follows: Solution 1 - dissolve&#160; 10 g of potassium iodide in 20 ml in MQ water, then add 5 g of iodine. Solution 2 - add 5 g of sodium acetate&#160; to 50 ml of MQ water. Add the solution 2 to the solution 1 and thoroughly mix</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Methanol stabilized formalin</td>
			<td>Any brand available for microscopy purposes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Microscope slides and cover slips</td>
			<td>Any brand produced for microscopy purposes&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;">MQ water for diluting samples</td>
			<td style="width:462px;">Any brand 
			&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; pH = 9)</td>
			<td>Any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>0.05 M Na2HPO4-NaCl solution, adjusted to pH 9</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;">PPi-saline buffer</td>
			<td>Any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:654px;">0.02 M Na4P2O7-NaCl solution. Add 0.53 g Na4P2O7 to 100 ml of MQ water plus 0.85 g NaCl&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Sampling device&#160;</td>
			<td>Appropriate for obtaining representative sample&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>e.g. Friedinger sampler for lake plankton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Sodium thiosulfate solution</td>
			<td>Any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>3% solution is used in the protocol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Sonicator</td>
			<td>Any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>30 W</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Vortex</td>
			<td>Any brand allowing&#160; thorough mixing of the solutes and samples</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:20px;">Water bath</td>
			<td>Any brand allowing temperature to be maintained at 60 &#176;C</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

fluorescently labeled bacteria as a tracer to reveal novel pathways of organic carbon flow in aquatic ecosystems

Elucidating trophic interactions, such as predation and its effects, is a frequent task for many researchers in ecology. The study of microbial communities has many limitations, and determining a predator, prey, and predatory rates is often difficult. Presented here is an optimized method based on the addition of fluorescently labelled prey as a tracer, which allows for reliable quantitation of the grazing rates in aquatic predatory eukaryotes and estimation of nutrient transfer to higher trophic levels.

Example experiment I was run in &#344;&#237;mov water reservoir (South Bohemia, CZ), which is a natural site with lower natural in situ predator and prey abundance. Representative data is reported for the omnivorous ciliate species Halteria grandinella, which is an abundant and efficient grazer of picoplankton (&#60;2 &#181;m) particles10,16,17,18,<sup class...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Fluorescently Labeled Bacteria as a Tracer to Reveal Novel Pathways of Organic Carbon Flow in Aquatic Ecosystems at JoVE.com

Fluorescently Labeled Bacteria as a Tracer to Reveal Novel Pathways of Organic Carbon Flow in Aquatic Ecosystems

Presented here is a protocol for a single-cell, epifluorescence microscopy-based technique to quantify grazing rates in aquatic predatory eukaryotes with high precision and taxonomic resolution.

Elucidating trophic interactions, such as predation and its effects, is a frequent task for many researchers in ecology. The study of microbial ...

This approach is significant because it allows us to visualize and estimate carbon and energy flows from prokaryotes to higher trophic levels in microbial food webs at a very high resolution.This is the only technique currently available for determining which protist species consume bacteria in situ, and at the same time quantifying the rate of this process at a single-cell level.Since bacteria are the only significant microbes changing dissolved organic carbon to particulate organic carbon, the knowledge of the players involved and rates at which this happens forms the basis for understanding aquatic ecosystems in general.We highly recommend that researchers become familiar with their study system before they conduct any grazing experiments.This in involves light and epifluorescence of microscopy inspection of the samples, and the knowledge of main taxon present and their seasonal dynamics.Demonstrating the procedure will be Jitka Jezberov

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