A CYTOCHEMICAL FINE STRUCTURE STUDY OF PHAGOTROPHY IN A PLANKTONIC FORAMINIFER,HASTIGERINA PELAGICA(d'ORBIGNY)

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Abstract
The fate of Artemia (brine shrimp) nauplii offered as food to Hastigerina pelagica in laboratory cultures was determined using light and electron microscopy. Contact between prey and foraminiferal rhizopodia leads to immediate attachment. Adhesive substance is secreted and rhizopodia invade crevices of the prey. penetrate beneath the cuticle, and begin disruption of prey tissue. Some tissue masses and cells are dislodged and digestion is begun outside of the test as indicated by lysosomal enzymes surrounding partially degraded prey tissue within spaces created by surrounding rhizopodia. Dislodged prey tissue is sequestered into food vacuoles and carried into the intrashell cytoplasm where digestion also occurs. The digestive enzymes are secreted by the Golgi apparatus in membrane-bound vesicles (lysosomes) which are carried throughout the cytoplasm and fuse with the food vacuoles to produce digestion. The carapace or cuticle of digested prey is discarded and undigested waste material in residual vacuoles is defecated at the periphery of the rhizopodial network.

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