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Significance of Heterotrophic Nanoflagellates and Ciliates in Large Lakes: Evidence from Lake Constance

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Book cover Large Lakes

Part of the book series: Brock/Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience ((BROCK/SPRINGER))

Abstract

This paper presents a case study on the dynamics of heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) and ciliates in Lake Constance illustrating the relationships between bacteria and protozoa in a large lake. The results will be discussed in the context of our present knowledge of the existence and functioning of a highly dynamic microbial food web (“microbial loop”) in pelagic systems.

In Lake Constance, bacterial production is mainly cropped by grazing of HNF which occur in concentrations of 102–104 cells ml−1. HNF less than 10 µm in size ingest between 10 and 100 bacteria HNF−1h−1. The size spectrum shows pronounced seasonal variations. Although the smallest HNF (<2 µm) dominate in numbers, their contribution to total HNF biomass is negligible. A biomass peak at 3 to 4 µm is obvious throughout most of the year. In epipelagic waters, HNF typically double every 20–50 hours. Thus, growth rates of HNF are only slightly lower than those of pelagic bacteria.

HNF are grazed upon by nano- and microciliates. Total ciliate concentrations range from 1–100 cells ml−1, and the orders Prostomatida and Oligotrichida numerically dominate the population. Although these ciliates are known to feed on small algae, their ability to efficiently crop bacteria is under debate. Further experimental evidence is needed in order to estimate the impact of pelagic ciliate grazing on bacteria and autotrophic picoplankton in lakes.

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Authors
  1. Thomas Weisse
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  2. Helga Müller
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Limnological Institute, University of Constance, D-7750, Constance, Federal Republic of Germany

    Max M. Tilzer

  2. Oceanographic Institute, P.O. Box 8030, 31080, Tel Shikmona, Haifa, Israel

    Colette Serruya

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Weisse, T., Müller, H. (1990). Significance of Heterotrophic Nanoflagellates and Ciliates in Large Lakes: Evidence from Lake Constance. In: Tilzer, M.M., Serruya, C. (eds) Large Lakes. Brock/Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84077-7_29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84077-7_29

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-84079-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-84077-7

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