The ecology of Chytridium deltanum and other fungus parasites on Oocystis spp.

Abstract

Consideration of the population curves of Oocystis crassa and O. lacustris in Lake Manitoba during the summers of 1966 and 1967, and July 1968, indicated that the aquatic fungus Chytridium deltanum was able in two instances to attack growing populations of these algae. This strongly suggested that the fungus was a parasite. However, in July 1965, in Cadham Bay, the fungus bloomed as the host population stopped growing and began to decline. Probably the host cells were slightly senescent at that time and thus more susceptible to fungus attack. Consideration of the composition of the fungus population showed that during one epidemic at least, large numbers of zoospores were released every 7 to 9 days. This suggested a nearly synchronous development of the fungus population. It was also observed that zoospores, able to encyst and successfully infect one host, were sometimes unable to attack another potential host present at the same time. In 1966 and 1967 the fungus appeared a few days after the water had reached 25C. Comparison of culture data for the algae and field studies indicated that Chytridium deltanum most commonly grew on the algae at temperatures above the optimum for the algae.