海洋微型和小型底栖生物相互作用研究综述

RESEARCH PROGRESS IN THE INTERACTONS OF MARINE MICRO- AND MEIOBENTHOS

The microscopic organisms from sediments are classified into microbenthos and meiobenthos. The former groups are usually referred to protozoa, microalgae and bacteria, whereas the latter comprise micrometazoa defined by mesh-size. Micro- and meiobenthos have been suggested as being one complex and are characterized by their small size, relative short life spans, high turnover rate, and complicated trophic structure. The quantification of the exchange rate of carbon seems a prerequisite for understanding the processes regulating the trophic structure in this complex, where the basic interactions of micro- and meiobenthos include nutrition, competition, synergy and inhibition, etc. The ecological processes mediating the interactions between these groups are poorly understood and invite our attention to more detailed studies. In this paper, we summarize literature data to outline the interactions of the two major assemblages and discuss the main progress in benthic microbial food web.