Wanted: alive and not dead: functioning diatom status is a quality cue for the suspension-feeder Crassostrea gigas

* < Previous * Next > Article Navigation Article Navigation Journal Article # Wanted: alive and not dead: functioning diatom status is a quality cue for the suspension-feeder *Crassostrea gigas* Get access Arrow Peter G. Beninger** , Peter G. Beninger \* 1 Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques , Université de Nantes , 2 Rue de la Houssinière, 44322 Nantes , France \*corresponding author: peter.beninger@univ-nantes.fr Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Alexandra Valdizan , Alexandra Valdizan 1 Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques , Université de Nantes , 2 Rue de la Houssinière, 44322 Nantes , France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Bruno Cognie , Bruno Cognie 1 Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques , Université de Nantes , 2 Rue de la Houssinière, 44322 Nantes , France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Freddy Guiheneuf , Freddy Guiheneuf 2 Laboratoire de Physiologie et Biochimie Végétale, Département Génie biologique , Université du Maine, IUT de Laval , 52 Rue des Docteurs Calmette et Guerin 53000, Laval , France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Priscilla Decottignies Priscilla Decottignies 1 Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques , Université de Nantes , 2 Rue de la Houssinière, 44322 Nantes , France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar *Journal of Plankton Research*, Volume 30, Issue 6, June 2008, Pages 689–697, https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbn031 Published: 28 February 2008 Article history** Received: 30 January 2008 Revision received: 21 February 2008 Accepted: 23 February 2008 Published: 28 February 2008 * ** Views ** * Article contents * **Cite ### Cite Peter G. Beninger, Alexandra Valdizan, Bruno Cognie, Freddy Guiheneuf, Priscilla Decottignies, Wanted: alive and not dead: functioning diatom status is a quality cue for the suspension-feeder *Crassostrea gigas*, *Journal of Plankton Research*, Volume 30, Issue 6, June 2008, Pages 689–697, https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbn031 Select Format Select format .ris (Mendeley, Papers, Zotero) .enw (EndNote) .bibtex (BibTex) .txt (Medlars, RefWorks) Download citation **Close * *Permissions Icon * Permissions * *Share Icon* Share ** * Bluesky * Facebook * X * LinkedIn * Email Navbar Search Filter Journal of Plankton ResearchThis issue Aquatic BiologyBooksJournalsOxford Academic Mobile Enter search term Search Close Navbar Search Filter Journal of Plankton ResearchThis issue Aquatic BiologyBooksJournalsOxford Academic Enter search term Search Advanced Search Search Menu ** AI Discovery Assistant Discover the most relevant content quickly with our AI Discovery Assistant ** ## Abstract Understanding the quality cues which govern the grazing of phytoplankton by suspension feeders is essential to understanding seston dynamics and benthic–pelagic coupling. We studied the effect of functioning cellular status on selection of two common coastal diatoms, Coscinodiscus perforatus var. pavillardii and Actinoptychus senarius, grazed upon by the commercially farmed oyster, Crassostrea gigas Thunberg. Two contexts were investigated, corresponding to those naturally encountered by oysters and their prey: (i) diatoms (C. perforatus var. pavillardii) larger than the size allowing selection on the gill (hence subject to selection on the labial palps only) and (ii) diatoms (A. senarius) within the size range allowing selection on the gill (hence subject to selection on both the gills and labial palps). Both intact and naturally dead cells possessed a perifrustular envelope, but the naturally dead cells lacked intracellular organic content. Oysters were able to discriminate between intact and naturally dead (empty) cells, both in the absence of prior selection on the gill and subsequent to prior selection on the gill. In contrast to previous findings in scallops, functioning cellular status is thus an important determinant of diatom selection and ingestion by oysters. This fine degree of discrimination may have evolved as an adaptation to the high turbidity, low food-quality estuarine environment typically colonized by oysters. The reduced organic content of rejected diatom cells in oyster pseudofaeces may affect the organic content of biodeposits, and subsequently the dynamics of nutrient release to the water column during mixing and resuspension. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org Issue Section: Original Articles You do not currently have access to this article. 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