Growth Promotion of the Flagellate Protozoan Monas guttula by the Addition of Granular Media and Glass Beads

Abstract

The flagellate protozoan Monas guttula was cultured in a suspension of cyanobacterium Microcystis viridis with or without ceramic granular media and glass beads to clarify the effect of granular media on the growth of M. guttula. The specific growth rate of M. guttula increased with the addition of granular media and glass beads, and M. viridis decreased rapidly. Upon addition of 40 g glass beads to 100 ml of M. viridis suspension, the specific growth rate increased 20－30%; moreover, the maximum density of M. guttula was over three-fold that of cultures lacking glass beads. These results indicate that granular media and glass beads promote the growth of M. guttula.