The influence of hypergravity on the Paramecium bursaria-Chlorella sp. symbiotic association.

The aim of the research was to determine the influence of strong hypergravity on the Paramecium bursaria-Chlorella sp. symbiotic association, which is considered to be a model example of symbiosis between a heterotroph and an autotroph. The paramecia cells were exposed to 1073 x g, 4293 x g, and 9658 x g hypergravity for 15 min. Then they were incubated for 21 d on a standard lettuce medium. The experiments were conducted in parallel under constant white light and in the dark. The changes in the number of paramecia cells during incubation were determined. Measurements of the number of Chlorella sp. endosymbionts inside host cells were also made. The results showed that a 15-min exposure to hypergravity attenuates the subsequent growth of Paramecium bursaria in the dark, but it may stimulate the growth of paramecia under constant light. Moreover, it causes an increase in the number of algae inside the paramecia cells. Presumably, the influence of hypergravity on the studied symbiotic complex is connected with its effect on the endosymbiotic Chlorella sp. cells. This subject requires further research, focused on the influence of hypergravity on the physiology and growth of the Chlorella sp. endosymbionts living inside the Paramecium bursaria cells.