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Grazing by a colourless flagellate on a green algal bloom

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Abstract

A dense bloom of a green algae was reduced by 97% within 5 days. This was probably caused by grazing by a colourless flagellate that increased logarithmic to high number under these days and disappeared as quickly. After this the green algae increased rapidly and mucilage lumps excreated by the flagellate was colonized by a specialistChlomydomonas.

The flagellate attack was probably enhanced by the high cell density and the physiological weakness of the green algae, due to a very low growth caused by shortage of inorganic carbon. The grazing seems to have caused an increase of inorganic nutrients that promoted the following growth of the green algae.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Limnology, University of Uppsala, Sweden

    Lars Ramberg

  2. Moi University, P. O. Box 3900, Eldoret, Kenya

    Lars Ramberg

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  1. Lars Ramberg
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Ramberg, L. Grazing by a colourless flagellate on a green algal bloom. Schweiz. Z. Hydrol 49, 294–302 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02538290

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02538290

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