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JPR Advance Access published online on October 17, 2005
Journal of Plankton Research, doi:10.1093/plankt/fbi080
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Received July 24, 2005
Accepted October 3, 2005

Article

Cladoceran and rotifer grazing on bacteria and phytoplankton in two shallow eutrophic lakes: in situ measurement with fluorescent microspheres

Helen Agasild 1* and Tiina Nõges 1

1 Estonian Agricultural University, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Limnology, Rannu, Tartu County, 61101 Estonia

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Helen Agasild, E-mail: kynnap{at}zbi.ee


  Abstract

Metazooplankton grazing on bacteria and on the phytoplankton of various sizes was estimated in shallow eutrophic lakes Kaiavere and Võrtsjärv (Estonia) by in situ feeding experiments with fluorescent microspheres (diameters 0.5 µm for bacteria and 3 µm, 6 µm and 24 µm for phytoplankton). Zooplankton community composition, abundance and food density were important factors determining grazing rates in these lakes. Cladocerans and rotifers filtering rates and ingestion rates on bacteria and phytoplankton were several times higher in L. Kaiavere where bacterivorous rotifers and Daphnia contributed more to zooplankton assemblage. While cladocerans were generally the main phytoplankton consumers, both lakes differed with respect to the groups of bacterivores. Based on consumption of fluorescent microspheres, the metazooplankton grazing rates were relatively low and had low impact on production and standing stock of bacteria and ingestible phytoplankton (<30 µm). On average 0.5% and 0.1% of standing stock of bacteria, and 2.6% and 1.0% of standing stock of ingestible phytoplankton was grazed daily by metazooplankton in L. Kaiavere and L. Võrtsjärv, respectively. That corresponded to daily grazing of 4.1% of the bacterial production and 0.43% of the total primary production by metazooplankton in L. Kaiavere compared to 4.3% and 0.06% in L. Võrtsjärv, respectively. The results suggest that the majority of consumption of the bacterial and phytoplankton primary production is most likely channelled through the microbial loop.

Communicating Editor: KJ Flynn
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