How Do Spores Select Where to Settle?

Using digital in-line holography for the first time, this thesis has been nominated for a Springer prize and achieves a complete three-dimensional and real-time motion analysis of Ulva zoospores, both in solution and in the vicinity of different surfaces.

In this thesis, Matthias Heydt applies digital in-line holography to achieve for the first time a complete three dimensional and real time motion analysis of Ulva zoospores, both in solution and in the vicinity of different surfaces. These results provide previously unknown information about the behavior and mechanism spores use to select a suitable site for settlement. This work gives deeper insight into biofouling algae and stimulates new design strategies for antifouling coatings. Furthermore, the tracking system developed during this research could be used as a new system for assessing the antifouling performance on different surfaces at very early points in time, allowing disentanglement of surface conditioning and interaction of spores with pristine chemistries.

Nominated by the Department of Applied Physical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg for a Springer Theses Prize A new experimental approach of coherent microscopy was successfully developed and related challenges overcome The results give deeper insight into the strategies of biofouling algae and allow development of new design strategies for antifouling coatings Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Contenu

Introduction.- Theory of Holography.- State of the Art.- Experimental details.- Results: Motility and exploration behavior of Ulva zoospores.- Discussion of the motility of Ulva zoospores in vicinity to surfaces.- Conclusion and Outlook.- Acknowledgement.- Appendix.