Change in rheotactic behavior patterns of dinoflagellates in response to different microfluidic environments

Plankton live in dynamic fluid environments. Their ability to change in response to different hydrodynamic cues is critical to their energy allocation and resource uptake. This study used a microfluidic device to evaluate the rheotactic behaviors of a model dinoflagellate species, Karlodinium veneficum, in different flow conditions. Although dinoflagellates experienced forced alignment in strong shear (i.e. “trapping”), fluid straining did not play a decisive role in their rheotactic movements. Moderate hydrodynamic magnitude (20 < |u(f)| < 40 µm s(−1)) was found to induce an orientation heading towards an oncoming current (positive rheotaxis), as dinoflagellates switched to cross-flow swimming when flow speed exceeded 50 µm s(−1). Near the sidewalls of the main channel, the steric mechanism enabled dinoflagellates to adapt upstream orientation through vertical migration. Under oscillatory flow, however, positive rheotaxis dominated with occasional diversion. The varying flow facilitated upstream exploration with directional controlling, through which dinoflagellates exhibited avoidance of both large-amplitude perturbance and very stagnant zones. In the mixed layer where water is not steady, these rheotactic responses could lead to spatial heterogeneity of dinoflagellates. The outcome of this study helps clarify the interaction between swimming behaviors of dinoflagellates and the hydrodynamic environment they reside in.