Original paper
Aggregate dwelling protozooplankton communities in estuaries
Rogerson, Andrew; Laybourn-Parry, Johanna
Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 125 Number 4 (1992), p. 411 - 422
26 references
published: Oct 19, 1992
DOI: 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/125/1992/411
ArtNo. ESP141012504001, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The proportion of floc-associated flagellates in the Clyde estuary, Scotland, were assessed between January to June, 1990. Observations on other floc-protozoa were made throughout the entire year. Some 80 % of all the planktonic heterotrophic flagellates throughout the estuary were observed to be associated with surfaces and were scored as floc-flagellates. Of these, between 48 to 63 % were morphologically adapted for surface attachment; the remainder showed behavioural adaptations suited to temporary floc-association. In the upper estuary, slightly more of the flagellate population had morphological adaptations for attachment. Presumably, this promoted the development of 'permanent' floc-associations which would benefit cells inhabiting this dynamic region characterised by rapid salinity fluctuations and tidal/river turbulence. Throughout the estuary, an average 44 % of total autotrophic flagellates were associated with suspended particulates. Bactivorous ciliates were transient visitors to floes where they grazed the associated floc-bacteria. The study provided some evidence to suggest that larger ciliates, such as tintinnids, were capable of ingesting entire floc assemblages. Naked amoebae were common in the plankton probably because they associated with the numerous suspended particulates. The study suggests that estuarine floes are important loci of protozooplankton activity and that the various protozoan groups can co-exist by exploiting different strata of associated floc-microbial prey.
Keywords
flagellates • Scotland • zooplankton