RESISTANCE OF ZYGOSPORES AND SELECTIVE DIGESTION OF NON-ZYGOSPORE CELLS OF THE ALGA CHLAMYDOMONAS-GEITLERI (CHLOROPHYTA) BY MOSQUITO LARVAE

The larvae of the mosquito Culex molestus FORSKAL selectively digested the vegetative and other non-zygospore cells of Chlamydomonas geitleri ETTL, whereas the zygospores passed through the alimentary canal of mosquito larvae without being affected. This resulted in a quantitative separation of zygospores from culture suspensions. In the populations of separated zygospores, the cell size distribution remained unchanged; changes in zygospore morphology, cell structure and germinability were also not observed. Under the experimental conditions, the rate of zygospore separation varied relatively little. The zygospores were not damaged even if repeatedly ingested by the larvae. The nature of digestive treatment of ChLamydomonas geitleri cells in the alimentary canal of mosquito larvae, the resistance of zygospores, and the biological and ecological importance of this resistance (species survival in nature) are discussed. Possible utilization of results in laboratory practice is described.