Cooperatively Generated Stresslet Flows Supply Fresh Fluid to Multicellular Choanoflagellate Colonies

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Cooperatively Generated Stresslet Flows Supply Fresh Fluid to Multicellular Choanoflagellate Colonies

Marcus Roper, Mark J. Dayel, Rachel E. Pepper, and M. A. R. Koehl

Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 228104 – Published 31 May 2013

Abstract

The flagellated protozoan Salpingoeca rosetta is one of the closest relatives of multicellular animals. Unicellular S. rosetta can be induced to form multicellular colonies, but colonies swim more slowly than individual cells so the advantages conferred by colony formation are uncertain. Here we use theoretical models to show that hydrodynamic cooperation between cells can increase the fluid supply to the colony, an important predictor of feeding rate. Our results suggest that hydrodynamic benefits may have been an important selective factor in the evolution of early multicellular animals.

Received 1 March 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.228104

Authors & Affiliations

Marcus Roper^1,*, Mark J. Dayel², Rachel E. Pepper^3,4, and M. A. R. Koehl³

¹Department of Mathematics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
²Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
³Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
⁴Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA