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Cafeteria (cafeteria) is probably the most abundant heterotrophic flagellate in marine ecosystems. It is a voracious bacterivore. Sessile feeding cells are D-shaped, 1.5 to 10 microns long, and laterally compressed. There is a ventral groove, and the flagella insert at the head of the groove. The anterior flagellum draws a current of water towards the cell, or pulls the cell forward when it is swimming around. Feeding cells are usually attached to the substrate by the tip of the second flagellum. This cell is a little swollen. Animations by Rosemary Arbur of flagellar beat patterns are available
here.Phase contrast.
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Cafeteria (cafeteria) is probably the most abundant heterotrophic flagellate in marine ecosystems. It is a voracious bacterivore. Sessile feeding cells are D-shaped, 1.5 to 10 microns long, and laterally compressed. There is a ventral groove, and the flagella insert at the head of the groove. These cells have been disturbed, and are not feeding. The anterior flagella have the sine-wave beat pattern that is characteristic of stramenopiles. The posterior flagella are shorter. Phase contrast.
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Cafeteria (cafeteria) is probably the most abundant heterotrophic flagellate in marine ecosystems. It is a voracious bacterivore. Sessile feeding cells are D-shaped, 1.5 to 10 microns long, and laterally compressed. There is a ventral groove, and the flagella insert at the head of the groove. The anterior flagellum draws a current of water towards the cell, or pulls the cell forward when it is swimming around. Feeding cells are usually attached to the substrate by the tip of the second flagellum. Phase contrast. Rotten picture.
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Cafeteria (cafeteria) roenbergensis Fenchel and Patterson, 1988. Cells are D-shaped, 2 to 5 microns long, and laterally compressed. There is a shallow groove on the left side of the cell. Two flagella of similar length emerge subapically and are slightly longer than the cell. The anterior flagellum is directed perpendicular to the ventral face of the cell of attached cells. The posterior flagellum is reflexed, passing over one face of the cell and then attaching to the substrate by the tip. In swimming cells, the anterior flagellum is directed forwards and beats with a sine-wave, and the posterior flagellum is directed backwards and trails. Usually the cells move fast following a spiral path, but sometimes move slowly. Bacteria may be ingested near the anterior part or posterior part of the ventral groove. Not common in sediments, widespread and abundant in the water column.
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Cafeteria roenbergensis Fenchel and Patterson, 1988. Cells are D-shaped, 2 to 5 microns long, and laterally compressed. There is a shallow groove on the left side of the cell. Two flagella of similar length emerge subapically and are slightly longer than the cell. The anterior (= feeding = hairy - the hairs are not visible by light microscopy) flagellum is directed perpendicular to the ventral face of the cell of attached cells. The posterior flagellum is reflexed, passing over one face of the cell and then attaching to the substrate by the tip. In swimming cells, the anterior flagellum is directed forwards and beats with a sine-wave, and the posterior flagellum is directed backwards and trails. Usually the cells move quickly following a spiral path, but sometimes they move slowly. Bacteria may be ingested near the anterior part or posterior part of the ventral groove.
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Cafeteria is a weed. When plenty of bacterial food is available, species of this genus will grow in great profusion. Dozens of cells are seen here near a piece of detritus. Animations by Rosemary Arbur of flagellar beat patterns are available
here. Phase contrast microscopy.