Signal‐induced Defensive Phenotypic Changes in Ciliated PProtists: Morphological and Ecological Implications for Predator and Prey1
Authors: WICKLOW BARRY J. 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT. Survival of a potential prey organism depends on the effectiveness of its physical, chemical, behavioral and life history responses to the appearance of a predator. Inducible defenses are flexible responses in which predator (or competitor)‐released substances stimulate potential prey organisms to transform into predator‐resistant phenotypes. Induced defenses may be highly protective. Benefits however are often balanced by fitness costs such as decreased growth rates or reduced reproductive potential. Here I discuss inducible defenses in ciliates with particular attention to the hypotrich genera: Aspidisca, Euplotes, Onychodromus, Sterkiella, and an undescribed hypotrich genus. I isolated Sterkiella sp. and the undescribed genus from vernal woodland pools on Saint Anselm College campus. Experimental evidence shows that a signal‐induced defensive transformation occurs in these ciliates within hours after exposure to a predator cue and results in a significant decrease in susceptibility to predation. Deployment of ciliate antipredator structures such as spines, keels, ridges and other protuberances requires a large investment of cytoskeletal elements, primarily microtubules, and incurs an evolutionary cost in the form of significantly reduced growth rates. Onychodromus quadricornutus exhibits an extraordinary degree of phenotypic plasticity. In response to different environmental conditions individuals within a clone may express one of three general phenotypes: basic, lanceolate, or giant cells. The predacious giant phenotype releases a morphogenetically active signal substance, Onychodromus‐factor, that triggers defensive phenotypic transformation in both intraspecific and interspecific prey. Enzyme degradation and ultrafiltration experiments indicate that Onychodromus‐factor is a peptide with a molecular weight below 10,000 Da. Conspecifics develop hypertrophied dorsal spines when exposed to Onychodromus‐factor. Sterkiella cells develop two defensive dorsal keels and transform to an enlarged ovoid cell in response to Onychodromus‐factor as well as inducing signals released by Stylonychia, Urosyla, and Lembadion. Field studies of two vernal pools show that defensive phenotypic transformation in Sterkiella cells coincides with the appearance of Lembadion magnum during vernal pool succession. An undescribed hypotrich genus also expresses its defended phenotype when Lembadion is present in these pools. Aspidisca turrita (Ehrenberg, 1838) Claparede and Lachmann 1858, closely resembles Aspidisca lynceus (Müller, 1773) except for the possession of a dorsal thorn‐like structure. Experimental evidence shows that the dorsal thron is a defensive structure induced by signals released by the predacious ciliates Urostyla grandis and Lembadion magnum. Thus, A. turrita and A. lynceus are alternate phenotypes of the same species. I speculate that inducing signals function in predacious ciliates as lectin‐like, carbohydrate‐binding adhesion proteins during prey recognition and that prey species have evolved specialized cell surface receptors that allow detection of different predator proteins. I consider consequences for both predator and prey.