Cold microgradients elicit adaptive behavior in isotropically cooled, inert populations of Oxytricha bifaria (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida)

To complete our investigations on the oriented behavioral response of isotropically cooled, inert populations of Oxytricha bifaria to a warm thermal gradient, their physiological potentialities under cold microgradient conditions arising at 8.5 degrees C were studied. We monitored the behavior of the experimental populations, both at the level of the passing cold wave front, and afterwards when the thermal gradient stabilized, evaluating (i) their distribution in general, (ii) their relative centroids, (iii) the percentage of both backward creeping and immobile ciliates, and (iv) the numerical indices and rates of their creeping tracks. At the arrival of the cold wave front, the oxytrichas react immediately to the thermal stimulus, creep backwards at very high velocity along uninterrupted linear tracks, and thus move away from the cooling source. No specific behavioral response was ever observed in the static microgradient conditions. At 8.5 degrees C, despite their inertness, the ciliates are still able to behave adaptively, reacting immediately and orientatedly, once a directional factor (the cold-repelling thermal gradient) arises in an isotropic environment. This is similar to their behavior in the symmetric warm attracting thermal gradient.