Open AccessElectromigration, a tool for studies on anaerobic ciliates
Author(s) -
Wagener Stefan,
Stumm Claudius K.,
Vogels Godfried D.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1986.tb01729.x
Subject(s) - electromigration , anaerobic exercise , anode , current (fluid) , biology , cathode , electrical current , protozoa , ecology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , materials science , electrode , oceanography , physiology , engineering , electrical engineering , composite material , geology
By applying electric current, anaerobic ciliates could be extracted from sludge samples. All the freshwater ciliates tested had one point of optimal current and voltage where they reached the highest net speed of migration in the electric field. The swimming behavior of Metopus es was tested under different current and voltage conditions. During electromigration the freshwater, marine and rumen ciliates moved from the anode to the cathode. In the anaerobic freshwater ciliates high numbersof methanogenic bacteria of different size were present. At the depth in the sludge with the highest number of Metopus minimus (660 cells ·ml −1 , a peak of methane production also occurred.