Fig. 1

Polar capsule discharge dynamics. a Schematic representation of the discharge process in Myxobolus klamathellus (not to scale). From left to right: capsule at rest, with tubule folded inside; Stage I, capsule after discharge, with tubule fully extended; Stage II, tubule contraction and dye injection begins; Stage III, tubule fully contracted and all the dye expelled to the environment. b Graph of the discharge process in Myxobolus klamathellus myxospore. c Discharge in Myxobolus shantungensis myxospore. d Discharge in Myxobolus cerebralis myxospore. The Inset shows higher temporal resolution of the first second of the discharge process. Each graph shows the relative tubule length, relative capsule size and relative dye load within the capsule (all expressed as % from the maximum value) throughout the discharge process. Note the different time scales in b, c and d. Each curve is an average result obtained from three capsules, with the standard error of the mean