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 geitler i ETTL, whereas the zygospores passed through the alimentary canal of mosquito larvae without being affected. This resulted in a quantitativ e separation of zygospores from culture suspensions. In the population s of separated zygospores, the cell size distribution remained unchang ed; 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 no t damaged even if repeatedly ingested by the larvae. The nature of dig estive treatment of ChLamydomonas geitleri cells in the alimentary can al of mosquito larvae, the resistance of zygospores, and the biologica l and ecological importance of this resistance (species survival in na ture) are discussed. Possible utilization of results in laboratory pra ctice is described.