Electromigration, a tool for studies on anaerobic ciliates

Abstract

By applying electric current, anaerobic ciliates could be extracted from sludge samples. All the freshwater ciliates tested had one point of optimal current and voltage where they reached the highest net speed of migration in the electric field. The swimming behavior of Metopus es was tested under different current and voltage conditions. During electromigration the freshwater, marine and rumen ciliates moved from the anode to the cathode. In the anaerobic freshwater ciliates high numbersof methanogenic bacteria of different size were present. At the depth in the sludge with the highest number of Metopus minimus (660 cells ·ml−1, a peak of methane production also occurred.