quorum sensing and density-dependent dispersal in an aquatic model system群体感应和水生的密度制约的扩散模型系统.pdfVIP

Quorum Sensing and Density-Dependent Dispersal in an Aquatic Model System 1,2 1 ´ 3 1 Simon Fellous *, Alison Duncan , Aurelie Coulon , Oliver Kaltz ´ 1 Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution UMR 5554, Universite Montpellier 2– CNRS, Montpellier, France, 2 Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations, INRA, ` ´ Montferrier sur Lez, France, 3 Conservation des Especes, Restauration et Suivi des Populations UMR 7204, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Brunoy, France Abstract Many organisms use cues to decide whether to disperse or not, especially those related to the composition of their environment. Dispersal hence sometimes depends on population density, which can be important for the dynamics and evolution of sub-divided populations. But very little is known about the factors that organisms use to inform their dispersal decision. We investigated the cues underlying density-dependent dispersal in inter-connected microcosms of the freshwater protozoan Paramecium caudatum. In two experiments, we manipulated (i) the number of cells per microcosm and (ii) the origin of their culture medium (supernatant from high- or low-density populations). We found a negative relationship between population density and rates of dispersal, suggesting the use of physical cues. There was no significant effect of culture medium origin on dispersal and thus no support for chemical cues usage. These results suggest that the perception of density – and as a result, the decision to disperse – in