Rosette Colonies of Choanoflagellates (Salpingoeca rosetta) Show Increased Food Vacuole Formation Compared with Single Swimming Cells

Choanoflagellates exist as both single-celled and colonial forms and filter-feed by generating water currents using a single apical flagellum. Hydrodynamic modeling studies have differed in predictions of whether single cells or colonies produce greater fluid flow to enhance feeding, and a recent study reported no increase in feeding efficiency of stalked colonies of choanoflagellates compared with single cells. We report that rosette colonies of Salpingoeca rosetta demonstrate higher rates of food vacuole formation compared with unicellular, slow swimmers.