FIG 3.

Variation in ribotypic traits of Colpoda steinii (A and C) and C. inflata (B and D) across lag, log, plateau, resting (RC), and unstable cyst (UC) stages and at two culturing temperatures. Unconnected points in line graph panels indicate unstable cysts. (A, B) Single-cell 18S rDNA and rRNA copy numbers progressively and significantly decreased from lag to RC phase. Cells in the UC stage generally had similar amounts of rDNA and rRNA as the vegetative cells in plateau phase. (C, D) Copy number ratios of rRNA to rDNA in single cells were significantly lower in resting cysts of both species. The ratio was consistent in all other life cycle phases of C. steinii and lower in plateau and unstable cystic phases of C. inflata (relative to its log phase). Bars represent standard errors. Treatments not sharing common letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05).