春季黄海微型浮游动物对不同粒径浮游植物的摄食速率研究

于2005年3月对黄海海域的7个站位应用稀释法研究了浮游植物的生长率和微型浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食压力。结果表明：实验期间,微型浮游动物生长速率范围在0．34～0．95d-1,浮游植物摄食速率范围在0．44～0．94d-1。微型浮游动物对浮游植物的现存量和初级生产力的摄食压力分别为47．76％～63．80％和61．50...     

2011年春夏季黄海和东海微型浮游动物类群组成及其摄食的研究

为了解春夏季黄海和东海微型浮游动物类群及其摄食生态,于2011年春季和夏季在黄海、东海,通过稀释法测定浮游植物生长率及微型浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食率,同时应用显微分析技术研究了微型浮游动物丰度及其类群组成．结果表明：（1）春季,黄海、东海微型浮游动物丰度为1800～21833个／dm3,夏季的为67～6175个／dm3;春季,其微型浮游动物生物量为8．71-60．58ug/dm3,夏季的则为0．44～30．25ug／dm3（其生物量以c含量计）．（2）春季、夏季黄海和东海浮游植物的生长率及其标准偏差分别为0．78±0．35、1．62±0．83d-1,而春季的显著低于夏季（P〈0．05）．春季、夏季其微型浮游动物的摄食率及其标准偏差分别为0．98±0．32、0．92±0．57d-1,无显著性差异（p〉0．05）．春季,微型浮游动物摄食浮游植物现有生物量的61％±13％,占初级生产量的131％±58％;夏季,微型浮游动物摄食浮游植物现有生物量的54％±22％,占初级生产量的70％±44％．春、夏季,黄海和东海微型浮游动物对浮游植物初级生产量的摄食比例较高．     

冬季南海北部海域微型浮游动物及其对浮游植物摄食压力研究

2009年1月在南海北部海域的5个站位,采用稀释法和显微分析技术研究了浮游植物生长率及微型浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食压力,同时测定了微型浮游动物的丰度及类群组成.结果表明:南海北部微型浮游动物类群主要以无壳纤毛虫为主,南海北部微型浮游动物类群细胞丰度为33～529个/dm3.南海北部浮游植物生长率为0.45～1.83 d-1,微型浮游动物摄食率为0.44～1.76 d-1,摄食压力占浮游植物现存量的42.6%～82.8%,占初级生产力的97.3%～225.1%.近岸区摄食压力比陆架区高,表明冬季南海近岸区微型浮游动物摄食能够有效的控制浮游植物的生长,而陆架区浮游植物生长率大于摄食率,浮游植物存在着现存量的积累,微型浮游动物并不能完全控制浮游植物的生长.     

Preliminary study on different nutrient pools supplies for the phytoplankton growth in the Jiaozhou Bay in China in the fall of 2004

The source and significance of two nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorous, were investigated by a modified dilution method performed on seawater samples from the Jiaozhou Bay, in autumn 2004. This modified dilution method accounted for the phytoplankton growth rate, microzooplankton grazing mortality rate, the internal and external nutrient pools, as well as nutrient supplied through remineralization by microzooplankton. The results indicated that the phytoplankton net growth rate increased in turn from inside the bay, to outside the bay, to in the Xiaogang Harbor. The phytoplankton maximum growth rates and microzooplankton grazing mortality rates were 1.14 and 0.92 d-1 outside the bay, 0.42 and 0.32 d-1 inside the bay and 0.98 and 0.62 d-1 in the harbor respectively. Outside the bay, the remineralized nitrogen (Kr=24.49) had heavy influence on the growth of the phytoplankton. Inside the bay, the remineralized phosphorus(Kr=3.49) strongly affected the phytoplankton growth. In the harbor, the remineralized phosphorus (Kr=3.73) was in larger demand by phytoplankton growth. The results demonstrated that the different nutrients pools supplied for phytoplankton growth were greatly in accordance with the phytoplankton community structure, microzooplankton grazing mortality rates and environmental conditions. It is revealed that nutrient remineralization is much more important for the phytoplankton growth in the Jiaozhou Bay than previously believed.     

2017年春季季风间期南海中北部浮游植物生长与微型浮游动物摄食

Phytoplankton growth rates and mortality rates were experimentally examined at 21 stations during the 2017 spring intermonsoon(April to early May) in the northern and central South China Sea(SCS) using the dilution technique, with emphasis on a comparison between the northern and central SCS areas which had different environmental factors. There had been higher temperature but lower nutrients and chlorophyll a concentrations in the central SCS than those in the northern SCS. The mean rates of phytoplankton growth(μ_0) and microzooplankton grazing(m) were(0.88±0.33) d~(–1) and(0.55±0.22) d~(–1) in the central SCS, and both higher than those in the northern SCS with the values of μ_0((0.81±0.16) d~(–1)) and m((0.30±0.09) d~(–1)), respectively.Phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates were significantly coupled in both areas. The microzooplankton grazing impact(m/μ_0) on phytoplankton was also higher in the central SCS(0.63±0.12) than that in the northern SCS(0.37±0.06). The microzooplankton abundance was significantly correlated with temperature in the surface. Temperature might more effectively promote the microzooplankton grazing rate than phytoplankton growth rate, which might contribute to higher m and m/μ_0 in the central SCS. Compared with temperature, nutrients mainly affected the growth rate of phytoplankton. In the nutrient enrichment treatment,the phytoplankton growth rate(μn) was higher than μ_0 in the central SCS, suggesting phytoplankton growth in the central SCS was nutrient limited. The ratio of μ_0/μn was significantly correlated with nutrients concentrations in the both areas, indicating the limitation of nutrients was related to the concentrations of background nutrients in the study stations.     

Community structure and grazing of the nano-microzooplankton on the continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay

In order to investigate the parameters controlling the heterotrophic protists (nano-microzooplankton) on the continental shelf of the southern Bay of Biscay, plankton communities and their physico-chemical environment were studied 4 times in February, April, June and September–October 2004 at three stations in the euphotic zone in the Bay of Biscay. The abundance and carbon biomass of heterotrophic protists (ciliates, heterotrophic dinoflagellates and nanoflagellates) as well as all the others groups of plankton (picoplankton, nanophytoplankton, diatoms, autotrophic dinoflagellates, metazoan microzooplankton and mesozooplankton), the environmental parameters and the primary and bacteria production were evaluated at each sampling period. Microzooplankton grazing experiments were undertaken at the same time. Ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates accounted for the main major component of nano- and microzooplankton communities in term of biomass. The total carbon biomass of heterotrophic protists was highest in spring and lowest at the end of summer. The development of heterotrophic protists started after a winter microphytoplankton bloom (principally large diatoms), the biomass was lower in June and was low in September (through inappropriate prey). The carbon requirement of microzooplankton ranged from 50 to more than 100% of daily primary, bacterial and nanoflagellate production. The heterotrophic protist community was predominantly constrained by bottom-up control in spring and at the end of summer via food availability and quality.     

黄、东海春季和秋季微型浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食压力

2000年秋季(10月21日-11月7日)和2001年春季(4月30日-5月15日)用稀释培养法在黄海和东海测定了微型浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食,结果表明:(1)秋季表层浮游植物叶绿素α(Chl α)的内禀生长率为0.40～0.59 d<'-1>,微型浮游动物对Chl α的摄食率为0.21～0.63 d<'-1>,对Ch...     

富营养河口水体藻华粒级结构的调控机制研究

为探究富营养河口水体藻华粒级结构的调控机制,本研究利用枯水期珠江口上游河水、下游海水及其等比例混合水进行培养实验,跟踪监测水体中叶绿素a和营养盐的浓度变化,并利用稀释实验估算藻类生长速率（μ）和小型浮游动物的摄食速率（m）,以阐明上行控制（营养盐刺激）和下行控制（摄食影响）对藻类粒级结构的影响。结果显示:营养加富能增加藻类的生物量,藻类群落的优势粒级由超微型和微型转换为小型;加富河水中μ维持2～3 d高值后下降,速率为（1.13±0.37）d?1,加富海水中μ逐步增加,速率为（1.06±0.16）d?1,加富混合水中μ轻微波动,速率为（0.58±0.14）d?1,总体上小型藻类μ最大。3组加富水体中m总体均先增大后下降,粒级差异不明显。藻类被小型浮游动物摄食率（m/μ）随粒级增大而减小,说明富营养刺激大粒级的生长,大粒级面临的被摄食压力较小。m/μ随藻类每日的比生长速率（μ_{Chl a}）降低而增加,说明藻华前期由上行控制主导,后期下行控制作用相对加强。本研究表明,富营养化不仅能够改变藻华的生物量,而且能影响其粒级结构,初步阐明了富营养河口水体中藻华粒级结构的调控机制。     

Top-down control of spring surface phytoplankton blooms by microzooplankton in the Central Yellow Sea,China

Phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing were studied during the 2007 spring bloom in Central Yellow Sea. The surveyed stations were divided to pre-bloom phase (Chl a concentration less than 2 μg L⁻¹), and bloom phase (Chl a concentration greater than 2 μg L⁻¹). Shipboard dilution incubation experiments were carried out at 19 stations to determine the phytoplankton specific growth rates and the specific grazing rates of microzooplankton on phytoplankton. Diatoms dominated in the phytoplankton community in surface waters at most stations. For microzooplankton, Myrionecta rubra and tintinnids were dominant, and heterotrophic dinoflagellate was also important in the community. Phytoplankton-specific growth rates, with an average of 0.60±0.19 d⁻¹, were higher at pre-bloom stations (average 0.62±0.17 d⁻¹), and lower at the bloom stations (average 0.59±0.21 d⁻¹), but the difference of growth rates between bloom and pre-bloom stations was not statistically significant (t test, p=0.77). The phytoplankton mortality rate by microzooplankton grazing averaged 0.41±0.23 d⁻¹ at pre-bloom stations, and 0.58±0.31 d⁻¹ during the blooms. In contrast to the growth rates, the statistic difference of grazing rates between bloom and pre-bloom stations was significant (after removal of outliers, t test, p=0.04), indicating the importance of the top-down control in the phytoplankton bloom processes. Average potential grazing efficiency on primary productivity was 66% at pre-bloom stations and 98% at bloom stations, respectively. Based on our results, the biomass maximum phase (bloom phase) was not the maximum growth rate phase. Both phytoplankton specific growth rate and net growth rate were higher in the pre-bloom phase than during the bloom phase. Microzooplankton grazing mortality rate was positively correlated with phytoplankton growth rate during both phases, but growth and grazing were highly coupled during the booming phase. There was no correlation between phytoplankton growth rate and cell size during the blooms, but they were positive correlated during the pre-bloom phase. Our results indicate that microzooplankton grazing is an important process controlling the growth of phytoplankton in spring bloom period in the Central Yellow Sea, particularly in the “blooming” phase.     

海蜇养殖港塭微型浮游动物的摄食和生产力研究

通过对山东省靖海湾海蜇养殖港塭定期采样,采用稀释法研究该海蜇养殖港塭水体中浮游植物的生长率、微型浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食率、摄食压力以及微型浮游动物的生产力。研究结果表明,海蜇养殖港塭微型浮游动物组成比较简单,海蜇养殖期间微型浮游动物丰度低于海蜇捕捞结束期。其中,海蜇养殖期间微型浮游动物的优势种为根状拟铃虫(Tintinnopsis radix),为600~2 600 ind/L,而海蜇捕捞结束后优势种为根状拟铃虫、诺氏麻铃虫(Leprotintinnus nordquisti)和运动类铃虫(Codonellopsis mobilis),丰度分别为3 000~6 000、1 500~3 0001、500~3 000 ind/L。研究期间,该港塭浮游植物生长率为0.05~1.03 d-1。微型浮游动物的摄食率为0.24~2.37 d-1,对浮游植物现存量的摄食压力为21.10%~90.61%,对潜在初级生产力的摄食压力为77.08%~583.68%,而微型浮游动物的次级生产力占初级生产力的22.92%~76.92%。本研究表明微型浮游动物在海蜇养殖港塭生态系统物质和能量流动中起着重要作用。     

亚热带和热带环境下夜光藻的摄食压力

2015年以广西三娘湾海域为亚热带海区,三亚海域为热带海区,利用稀释法开展了现场培养实验,测定热带和亚热带海区夜光藻对浮游植物、微型浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食压力,研究了夜光藻对不同粒径的浮游生物的摄食作用.结果表明:两个海区都有比较高的生长率和摄食率,其中细菌有最高的生长率和摄食死亡率;夜光藻的摄食率,从总浮游植物、微微型浮游植物到聚球藻、细菌逐渐增高.亚热带海区与热带海区相比,微型浮游动物的摄食压力更小,表明低温影响了浮游动物的摄食活性;而营养盐是引起亚热带海区高生长率的主要因素.     

Microzooplankton herbivory in the Ross Sea, Antarctica

Microplankton abundances and phytoplankton mortality rates were determined at six stations during four cruises spanning three seasons in the Ross Sea polynya, Antarctica (early spring, Oct.–Nov. 1996; mid-late summer, Jan.–Feb. 1997; fall, Apr. 1997; mid-late spring, Nov.–Dec. 1997). Rates of microzooplankton herbivory were measured using a modified dilution technique, as well as by examining the rate of disappearance of phytoplankton (chlorophyll) in samples incubated in the dark (i.e. grazing in the absence of phytoplankton growth). Strong seasonal cycles of phytoplankton and microzooplankton abundance were observed during the study. Microzooplankton abundance varied by more than three orders of magnitude during the four cruises, and was positively correlated with phytoplankton biomass over the entire data set. Nevertheless, microzooplankton grazing was insufficient to impact significantly phytoplankton standing stocks during most of the experiments performed in this perenially cold environment. Only thirteen out of a total of 51 experiments yielded phytoplankton mortality rates that were significantly different from zero. The highest mortality rate observed in this study (0.26 d⁻¹) was modest compared with maximal rates that have been observed in temperate and tropical ecosystems. Results from twenty experiments examining the rate of decrease of phytoplankton biomass during incubations in the dark agreed quite well with the results of the dilution experiments performed at the same time. The range of mortality rates for the dark incubations was −0.09–0.06 d⁻¹, and the average was essentially zero (−0.01 d⁻¹). That is, chlorophyll concentration was virtually unchanged in samples incubated in the dark for 3 d. A number of factors appeared to contribute to the very low rates of microbial herbivory observed, including low water temperature, and the size and taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton assemblage. Based on our results we conclude that the seasonal, massive phytoplankton blooms observed in the Ross Sea are due, in part, to low rates of removal by microbial herbivores.     

长江口邻近海域浮游植物粒级结构特征及其与环境的响应关系

浮游植物的分粒级研究是监测浮游植物特征的重要工具,对于深入了解浮游植物动态的作用也不容忽视。本文的研究目的在于揭示长江口邻近海域春秋季不同粒级的浮游植物分布动态,分析浮游植物粒级结构与环境因素以及浮游动物群落结构的关系。通过2010年春季和秋季对粒径分级叶绿素a浓度的现场调查研究发现：春季,浮游植物主要以微型浮游植物占优势;秋季,微微型浮游植物和微型浮游植物共同占优势。相关分析结果表明,温度和富营养化状况是影响微型和微微型浮游植物对总叶绿素a贡献的重要因素。浮游动物的摄食压力可能对小型浮游植物对总叶绿素a的贡献起着重要的作用。     

Bottom-up control of phytoplankton growth in spring blooms in Central Yellow Sea,China

The source and significance of three nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorous and silicon – were investigated by a modified dilution method performed on seawater samples from the Central Yellow Sea (CYS), in spring blooming period of 2007. This modified dilution method accounted for the phytoplankton growth rate, microzooplankton grazing mortality rate, the internal and external nutrient pools, as well as nutrients supplied through remineralization by microzooplankton grazing. The results indicate that phytoplankton growth during the bloom is mostly contributed by internal nutrient pools (K_I=0.062–1.730). The external nutrient pools (K_E=<0–0.362) are also of importance for phytoplankton growth during the bloom at some sampling sites. Furthermore, the contribution of the recycled-nutrient pool by remineralization (K_R=<0–0.751) is significant when microzooplankton grazing rate was higher than 0.5 d⁻¹ during the spring phytoplankton blooms in the Central Yellow Sea. Compared with internal phosphorus, internal nitrogen and silicon contribute more to the phytoplankton production at most sampling stations.     

Microzooplankton grazing and selective feeding during bloom periods in the Tolo Harbour area as revealed by HPLC pigment analysis

Dilution experiments were conducted to investigate microzooplankton grazing impact on phytoplankton of different taxonomic groups and size fractions (< 5, 5–20, 20–200 μm) during spring and summer bloom periods at two different sites (inner Tolo Harbour and Tolo Channel) in the Tolo Harbour area, the northeastern coastal area of Hong Kong. Experiments combined with HPLC pigment analysis in three phytoplankton size fractions measured pigment and size specific phytoplankton growth rates and microzooplankton grazing rates. Pigment-specific phytoplankton growth rates ranged between 0.08 and 3.53 d^− 1, while specific grazing rates of microzooplankton ranged between 0.07 and 2.82 d^− 1. Highest specific rates of phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing were both measured in fucoxanthin in 5–20 μm size fraction in inner Tolo Harbour in summer, which coincided with the occurrence of diatom bloom. Results showed significant correlations between phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates. Microzooplankton placed high grazing pressure on phytoplankton community. High microzooplankton grazing impact on alloxanthin (2.63–5.13) suggested strong selection toward cryptophytes. Our results provided no evidence for size selective grazing on phytoplankton by microzooplankton.     

Grazing impact of microzooplankton on phytoplankton in the Xiamen Bay using pigment-specific dilution technique

Phytoplankton group-specific growth and microzooplankton grazing were determined seasonally using the dilution technique with high-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） in the Xiamen Bay, a subtropical bay in southeast China, between May 2003 and February 2004. The results showed that growth rates of phytoplankton ranged from 0.71 to 2.2 d^-1 with the highest value occurred in the inner bay in May. Mierozooplankton grazing rates ranged from 0.5 to 3.1 d^-1 with the highest value occurred in the inner bay in August. Microzooplankton grazing impact ranged from 39% to 95% on total phytoplankton Chl a biomass, and 65% to 181% on primary production. The growth and grazing rates of each phytoplankton group varied, the highest growth rate （up to 3.3 d^-1 ） was recorded for diatoms in August, while the maximum grazing rate （ up to 2.1 d ^-1 ） was recorded for chlorophytes in February in the inner bay. Among main phytoplankton groups, grazing pressure of microzooplankton ranged from 10% to 83% on Chl a biomass, and from 14% to 151% on primary production. The highest grazing pressure on biomass was observed for cryptophytes （83%） in August, while the maximum grazing pressure on primary production was observed for eyanobacteria （up to 151% ） in December in the inner bay. Net growth rates of larger phytoplanktons （diatoms and dinoflagellates） were higher than those of smaller groups （ prasinophytes, chlorophytes and cyanobacteria）. Relative preference index showed that microzooplankton grazed preferentially on prasinophytes and avoided to harvest diatoms in cold seasons （December and February）.     

围隔实验研究台湾海峡2005年夏季小型浮游动物对硅藻水华的摄食

为了研究小型浮游动物对近岸浮游植物藻华的摄食调控作用,于2005年7月,应用"稀释法"并结合高效液相色谱(HPLC)光合色素分析技术,研究了台湾海峡船基围隔实验条件下浮游植物生长率及小型浮游动物摄食率的日变动。结果表明:由于营养盐添加的影响,迅速形成了以尖刺伪菱形藻(Pseudo-nitzschia pungens)为优势种的藻华,生物量(叶绿素a)从实验初始7月6日的1.45μg/dm3迅速增加到7月8日的29.80μg/dm3,随后消退。镜检和光合色素分析的结果显示,实验期间一直以此硅藻占绝对优势。浮游植物的生长率在藻华峰值(7月8日)前保持了较高的生长速率(>1.0/d)且大于小型浮游动物的摄食率;小型浮游动物的摄食率也逐渐增加,7月7日时达到0.86/d,显示有57%以上的浮游植物现存量被摄食。7月8日后,水华迅速消退,摄食率除13日外,均大于浮游植物的生长率。小型浮游动物主要由急游虫(Strombidium spp.)、侠盗虫(Strobilidium spp.)等无壳纤毛虫、异养甲藻-螺旋环沟藻(Gyrodinium spirale)及砂壳纤毛虫等组成,其对浮游植物的生长迅速作出了反应,各类群的丰度在水华峰值后的7月9日均几达最大值,水华后期(11日)大型的无壳纤毛虫达最大值。小型浮游动物的这种组成及变动特点是其保持较高摄食率及一定程度上控制和促进藻华消退的原因之一。     

Phytoplankton growth, microzooplankton herbivory and community structure in the southeast Bering Sea: insight into the formation and temporal persistence of an Emiliania huxleyi bloom

Using the seawater dilution technique, we measured phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates within and outside of the 1999 Bering Sea coccolithophorid bloom. We found that reduced microzooplankton grazing mortality is a key component in the formation and temporal persistence of the Emiliania huxleyi bloom that continues to proliferate in the southeast Bering Sea. Total chlorophyll a (Chl a) at the study sites ranged from 0.40 to 4.45 μg C l⁻¹. Highest phytoplankton biomass was found within the bloom, which was a mixed assemblage of diatoms and E. huxleyi. Here, 75% of the Chl a came from cells >10 μm and was attributed primarily to the high abundance of the diatom Nitzschia spp. Nutrient-enhanced total phytoplankton growth rates averaged 0.53 d⁻¹ across all experimental stations. Average growth rates for >10 μm and <10 μm cells were nearly equal, while microzooplankton grazing varied among stations and size fractions. Grazing on phytoplankton cells >10 μm ranged from 0.19 to 1.14 d⁻¹. Grazing on cells <10 μm ranged from 0.02 to 1.07 d⁻¹, and was significantly higher at non-bloom (avg. 0.71 d⁻¹) than at bloom (avg. 0.14 d⁻¹) stations. Averaged across all stations, grazing by microzooplankton accounted for 110% and 81% of phytoplankton growth for >10 and <10 μm cells, respectively. These findings contradict the paradigm that microzooplankton are constrained to diets of nanophytoplankton and strongly suggests that their grazing capability extends beyond boundaries assumed by size-based models. Dinoflagellates and oligotrich ciliates dominated the microzooplankton community. Estimates of abundance and biomass for microzooplankton >10 μm were higher than previously reported for the region, ranging from 22,000 to 227,430 cells l⁻¹ and 18 to 164 μg C l⁻¹. Highest abundance and biomass occurred in the bloom and corresponded with increased abundance of the large ciliate Laboea, and the heterotrophic dinoflagellates Protoperidinium and Gyrodinium spp. Despite low grazing rates on phytoplankton <10 μm within the bloom, the abundance and biomass of small microzooplankton (<20 μm) capable of grazing E. huxleyi was relatively high at bloom stations. This body of evidence, coupled with observed high grazing rates on large phytoplankton cells, suggests the phytoplankton community composition was strongly regulated by herbivorous activity of microzooplankton. Because grazing behavior deviated from size-based model predictions and was not proportional to microzooplankton biomass, alternate mechanisms that dictate levels of grazing activity were in effect in the southeastern Bering Sea. We hypothesize that these mechanisms included morphological or chemical signaling between phytoplankton and micrograzers, which led to selective grazing pressure.     

Microzooplankton Grazing in the Southern Ocean: Implications for the Carbon Cycle

Abstract. Microzooplankton grazing and protozooplankton community structure was investigated in austral summer (Jan./Feb.) and winter (June/July) 1993 in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean during the SAAMES (South African Antarctic Marine Ecosystem Study) Il and III cruises. Grazing was estimated at 22 stations in summer and at 15 stations in winter by employing the sequential dilution technique. Nano-heterotrophic flagellates (< 20 μm) and ciliates (aloricate ciliates and tintinnids) dominated the protozooplankton assemblages along both transects. Densities in winter were, however, nearly an order of magnitude lower than in summer. Microzooplankton grazing removed between 0 and 28% (mean = 13.2%) of the initial phytoplankton stock in summer and, between 24 and 51 % of the initial stock (mean = 37.6%) in winter. The potential primary production removed during summer ranged between 0 and 46% (mean = 22.0%) compared with the winter range of 56–83% (mean = 67.2%). Size selectivity grazing experiments conducted during both studies suggest that microzooplankton preferentially graze on the nano- (20–2.0μm) and picophytoplankton (2.0–0.2μm) size fractions. These results have important implications for the efficiency of the carbon pump in the Southern Ocean. During summer when the larger cells dominate phytoplankton biomass, the bulk of the photosynthetically fixed carbon appears to be channelled to the meso- and macrozooplankton fractions. This results in a rapid transfer of organic carbon out of the zone of regeneration to the deep ocean via vertical migration and large faecal pellet production. During winter, however, an increase in the contribution of the smaller size fractions to total phytoplankton biomass results in a greater proportion of the photosynthetically fixed carbon being channelled to the microzooplankton fraction. The efficiency of the carbon pump is, therefore, reduced in that the transfer of carbon below the zone of regeneration is reduced as carbon is recycled mostly within the microbial loop in the upper mixed layer.     

Grazing by meso- and microzooplankton on phytoplankton in the upper reaches of the Schelde estuary (Belgium/The Netherlands)

In contrast with the marine reaches of estuaries, few studies have dealt with zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton in the upper estuarine reaches, where freshwater zooplankton species tend to dominate the zooplankton community. In spring and early summer 2003, grazing by micro- and mesozooplankton on phytoplankton was investigated at three sites in the upper Schelde estuary. Grazing by mesozooplankton was evaluated by monitoring growth of phytoplankton in 200 μm filtered water in the presence or absence of mesozooplankton. In different experiments, the grazing impact was tested of the calanoïd copepod Eurytemora affinis, the cyclopoid copepods Acanthocyclops robustus and Cyclops vicinus and the cladocera Chydorus sphaericus, Moina affinis and Daphnia magna/pulex. No significant grazing impact of mesozooplankton in any experiment was found despite the fact that mesozooplankton densities used in the experiments (20 or 40 ind. l⁻¹) were higher than densities in the field (0.1–6.9 ind. l⁻¹). Grazing by microzooplankton was evaluated by comparing growth of phytoplankton in 30 and 200 μm filtered water. Microzooplankton in the 30–200 μm size range included mainly rotifers of the genera Brachionus, Trichocerca and Synchaeta, which were present from 191 to 1777 ind. l⁻¹. Microzooplankton had a significant grazing impact in five out of six experiments. They had a community grazing rate of 0.41–1.83 day⁻¹ and grazed up to 84% of initial phytoplankton standing stock per day. Rotifer clearance rates estimated from microzooplankton community grazing rates and rotifer abundances varied from 8.3 to 41.7 μl ind.⁻¹ h⁻¹. CHEMTAX analysis of accessory pigment data revealed a similar phytoplankton community composition after incubation with and without microzooplankton, indicating non-selective feeding by rotifers on phytoplankton.