Table 1 Characteristics of single aggregates formed from non-infected and fungal-infected diatom cultures.

Set I

Diameter d

2.4 ± 1.3

(1.1–4.9)

12

2.4 ± 1.0

(1.3–4.7)

12

mm

0.93

Image analyses

Porosity φ

0.9993 ± 0.0002 (0.9990–0.9997)

12

0.9995 ± 0.0002 (0.9993–0.9997)

12

-

0.56

Eq.4

Excess density ∆ρ

0.8 ± 0.3

(0.4–1.3)

12

0.6 ± 0.1

(0.4–0.9)

12

mg cm⁻³

0.009

Eq.5

Drag coefficient C_D

13.1 ± 11.4

(2.2–43.2)

12

14.9 ± 9.8

(2.9–36.9)

12

-

0.69

Eq.6

Reynolds number Re

6.8 ± 8.7

(0.6–28.2)

12

4.6 ± 5.5

(0.7–18.1)

12

-

0.46

Eq.7

Settling velocity U

201 ± 148

(52–534)

12

144 ± 103

(52–363)

12

m d⁻¹

0.04

(curve fit)

Settling column

Fractal dimension D₃

2.37 ± 0.30

12

2.64 ± 0.24

12

-

0.005

(curve fit)

Eq.8

Set II

POC content^a

6.7 ± 2.8

(3.6–11.4)

9

8.0 ± 5.3

(1.6–15.4)

9

µg C agg⁻¹

0.52

Carbon analyzer

C-specific respiration

0.16 ± 0.08

(0.08–0.31)

9

0.34 ± 0.08

(0.22–0.45)

9

d⁻¹

0.0002

Oxygen sensor

Set III

Bacterial colonization^b

2.7 ± 0.5 × 10⁴

(1.8–3.3 × 10⁴)

9

12.3 ± 0.8 × 10⁴

(11.0–13.3 × 10⁴)

9

agg⁻¹

<0.0001

Microscopy

Set IV

Mass density aggregates ρs-agg

1.284 ± 0.003

(1.280–1.289)

6

1.258 ± 0.004

(1.253–1.262)

4

g cm⁻³

<0.0001

Density gradient

Infection prevalence

42 ± 3

(37–45)

6

(1 mL)

71 ± 3

(66–76)

9

%

0.0001

Microscopy

Mass density cells ρs-cells (single diatom cells)

1.269 ± 0.001^d

(1.268–1.271)

3

(flasks)

1.251 ± 0.004

(1.249–1.256)

3

(flasks)

g cm⁻³

0.008

Density gradient

Cell biovolume

1446 ± 265

(855–2161)

50

(cells)

1688 ± 238

(1217–2701)

20

(cells)

µm⁻³

0.005

Microscopy