Carbon flux of trophic-functional groups within the colonization process of biofilm-dwelling ciliates in marine ecosystems

Yang, Zhongwen; Xu, Yanchun; Xu, Guangjian; Xu, Henglong

doi:10.1017/s0025315416000291

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…, Yang et al. ). This might contribute to the fact that only few studies have quantified algal grazing by the biofilm‐dwelling microfauna.…”

Section: Present Understanding Of the Role Of Micrograzers Within Biomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Yang et al. ; see Table for examples). Systematic studies on the pelagic‐benthic transfer of matter arbitrated by microbenthic suspension feeders have been carried out in the river Rhine by Weitere et al.…”

Section: Toward Understanding Food Webs In Aquatic Biofilmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whereas members of both the protozoans and the meiofauna are able to consume algae, there is a general trend that algivorous species are larger and occur later during biofilm succession than is the case in bacterivorous species (Fr€ uh et al 2011, Yang et al 2016). This might contribute to the fact that only few studies have quantified algal grazing by the biofilm-dwelling microfauna.…”

Section: Effects Of Micrograzers On Biofilm Algae and Cyanobacteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By existing at the interface between substratum and plankton, biofilm-dwelling organisms can potentially utilize both suspended and surface-associated resources (Norf et al 2009a, b, Fr€ uh et al 2011. Suspension feeders, which access planktonic food particles, are frequently found within biofilm communities in different organism groups including heterotrophic flagellates, ciliates, and rotifers (Wallace and Starkweather 1983, Parry 2004, Gong et al 2005, Ackermann et al 2011, Yang et al 2016; see Table 1 for examples). Systematic studies on the pelagic-benthic transfer of matter arbitrated by microbenthic suspension feeders have been carried out in the river Rhine by Weitere et al (2003) and Kathol et al (2011).…”

Section: Different Origins Of Resources For Biofilm-dwelling Microgramentioning

confidence: 99%

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The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

Weitere

Erken

Majdi

et al. 2018

Ecological Monographs

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Biofilms, the complex communities of microbiota that live in association with aquatic interfaces, are considered to be hotspots of microbial life in many aquatic ecosystems. Although the importance of attached algae and bacteria is widely recognized, the role of the highly abundant biofilm‐dwelling micrograzers (i.e., heterotrophic protists and small metazoans) is poorly understood. Studies often highlight the resistance of bacterial biofilms to grazing within the microbial food web and therefore argue that the micrograzers have a modulating role (i.e., have effects on biofilm phenotype) rather than a direct trophic role within biofilms. In the present review, we show that this view comes too short, and we establish a conceptual framework of biofilm food webs consisting of three major elements. (1) Energy pathways and subsidization from plankton. As inhabitants of interfaces, biofilm‐dwelling grazers potentially access both planktonic organisms and surface‐associated organisms. They can play an important role in importing planktonic production into the biofilm food web and thus in the coupling of the planktonic and benthic food webs. Nevertheless, specialized grazers are also able to utilize significant amounts of autochthonous biofilm production. (2) Horizontal complexity of the basal food web. While bacteria and algae within biofilms are edible in general, food quality and accessibility of both bacteria and algae can differ considerably between different prey phenotypes occurring during biofilm formation with respect to morphology, chemical defense, and nutrient stoichiometry. Instead of considering bacteria and algae within biofilms to be generally resistant to feeding by micrograzers, we suggest considering a horizontal food‐quality axis to be at the base of biofilm food webs. This food quality gradient is probably associated with increasing costs for the micrograzers. (3) Vertical food web complexity and food chain length. In addition to the consumption of bacteria and algae, many predatory micrograzers exist within biofilm food webs. With the help of video microscopy, we were able to demonstrate the existence of a complex food web with several trophic levels within biofilms. Our conceptual framework should assist in integrating food web concepts and processes into whole‐biofilm budgets and in understanding food‐web‐related interactions within biofilms.

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“…, Yang et al. ). This might contribute to the fact that only few studies have quantified algal grazing by the biofilm‐dwelling microfauna.…”

Section: Present Understanding Of the Role Of Micrograzers Within Biomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Toward Understanding Food Webs In Aquatic Biofilmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effects Of Micrograzers On Biofilm Algae and Cyanobacteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Different Origins Of Resources For Biofilm-dwelling Microgramentioning

confidence: 99%

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The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

Weitere

Erken

Majdi

et al. 2018

Ecological Monographs

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“…Ciliates are known to have diverse food‐types (Finlay & Esteban, ; Foissner & Berger, ; Parry, ) whereby surface‐dwelling ciliates can potentially access both suspended and surface‐associated particles (Norf et al, ). Therefore, they can act as both, a trophic link between pelagic and benthic food webs (Kathol, Norf, Arndt, & Weitere, ; Kathol et al, ; Weitere, Schmidt‐Denter, & Arndt, ) and as mediators of the within‐biofilm carbon flow (Böhme, Risse‐Buhl, & Küsel, ; Weitere, Bergfeld, Matz, Rice, & Kjelleberg, ; Yang, Xu, Xu, & Xu, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large‐scale patterns of biofilm‐dwelling ciliate communities in a river network: Only small effects of stream order

Ritz

Eßer

Arndt

et al. 2017

Internat Rev Hydrobiol

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Although biofilm‐dwelling microfauna (i.e., small metazoans and protzoans) can play an important role in the flux of matter in running waters, their dynamics, and control within stream networks are as yet poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the longitudinal (from first order stream to large river) dynamics of ciliates associated to hard substrate within a river network. Both ciliate abundance and their taxonomical community structure showed no correlations to stream order, although the community structure of the largest river, the Rhine, differed from those of the other rivers. The abundances of biofilm‐dwelling bacteria, algae, rotifers, and nematodes also showed no correlation with stream order. The above results contrast to the abundances of planktonic algae and bacteria that were significantly and positively correlated with the stream order. The results showed that stream size and the corresponding planktonic resource concentration are not reliable parameters in predicting the abundances and community structures of biofilm‐dwelling ciliates. In fact, local parameters seemed to have stronger effects on benthic microfauna communities. Thus, the impact of small‐scale habitat patterns needs further attention in explaining the community structure of biofilm‐dwelling ciliates.

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Vertical shift in ciliate body-size spectrum and its environmental drivers in western Arctic pelagic ecosystems

Yang

Lee

et al. 2018

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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As an inherent functional trait, body-size spectrum is widely used as an informative indicator to summarize community structures in taxon-free space. The vertical shift in the body-size spectrum of pelagic ciliates and its environmental drivers were explored at eight depth layers from the water surface to a depth of 100 m in western Arctic pelagic ecosystems. A total of 85 samples were collected at 23 sampling stations during the summer sea-ice reduction period from August 5 to August 24, 2016. Based on equivalent spherical diameter (ESD), six body-size ranks were identified, of which ranks S2 (15-25 μm), S3 (26-38 μm), S4 (39-60 μm), and S6 (79-91 μm) were the top four levels in frequency of occurrence and ranks S2 and S3 were the dominant levels in abundance. The body-size spectrum of the ciliates showed a clear vertical shift, with a significant succession among the dominant body-size units from the water surface to deeper layers in the water column. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant vertical variation in the body-size spectrum of the ciliates among the eight depths, which was significantly correlated with nutrients (phosphate and nitrite + nitrate) and chlorophyll a (Chl a), alone or in combination with dissolved oxygen. Four body-size diversity/distinctness indices were significantly correlated with the levels of phosphate, nitrite + nitrate, ammonium, and Chl a. Our results demonstrated that the body-size spectrum of pelagic ciliates can be shifted by environmental drivers (mainly nutrients and Chl a); thus, we suggest that it may be used to indicate water quality status on a vertical scale in the water column in deep seas.

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Carbon flux of trophic-functional groups within the colonization process of biofilm-dwelling ciliates in marine ecosystems

Cited by 7 publications

References 26 publications

The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

Large‐scale patterns of biofilm‐dwelling ciliate communities in a river network: Only small effects of stream order

Vertical shift in ciliate body-size spectrum and its environmental drivers in western Arctic pelagic ecosystems

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