Diatom feeding across trophic guilds in tidal flat nematodes, and the importance of diatom cell size

Moens, Tom; Vafeiadou, Anna-Maria; Geyter, Ewout De; Vanormelingen, Pieter; Sabbe, Koen; Troch, Marleen De

doi:10.1016/j.seares.2013.08.007

Cited by 45 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Moens et al. () used bulk 13 C and 15 N isotopic signatures combined with food choice experiments. They showed that all nematodes (including those traditionally considered to be exclusively predatory) feed on diatoms.…”

Section: Present Understanding Of the Role Of Micrograzers Within Biomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In his review of published grazing rates, Montagna (1995) inferred an average meiofaunal grazing rate of~1% of the microbial standing stocks (both heterotrophic and autotrophic) per hour. Moens et al (2014) used bulk 13 C and 15 N isotopic signatures combined with food choice experiments. They showed that all nematodes (including those traditionally considered to be exclusively predatory) feed on diatoms.…”

Section: Effects Of Micrograzers On Biofilm Algae and Cyanobacteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

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The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

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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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Section: Present Understanding Of the Role Of Micrograzers Within Biomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effects Of Micrograzers On Biofilm Algae and Cyanobacteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

Weitere

Erken

Majdi

et al. 2018

Ecological Monographs

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“…In light of the present results, which show that Daptonema can utilize vascular plant detritus, caution is due when discarding vascular-plant derived detrital resources from the diet of this and other nematodes. Documentation of the feeding behaviour of intertidal Theristus is sparser than for Daptonema, but here too, diatoms have been shown to be a prominent food resource based on observations and on stable isotope data (Boucher, 1973;Moens et al, 2013). In general, however, (non-selective) deposit feeders are considered opportunistic feeders capable of ingesting a variety of food particles, including microalgae, bacteria, and perhaps also small detrital particles, the latter also being indicated by the results of this study, with particle size being a major determinant of food selection (Moens and Vincx, 1997).…”

Section: Implications For Nematode Trophic Guild Classificationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Less information is available for meiobenthos resource utilization in seagrass beds (Vizzini et al, 2000b(Vizzini et al, , 2002aBaeta et al, 2009;Leduc et al, 2009;Lebreton et al, 2011Lebreton et al, , 2012, with none of the studies including meiofauna at the level of feeding types, families, genera or species. The few studies using natural isotope abundances to unravel food resources of coastal meiofauna at this level (Carman and Fry, 2002;Moens et al, , 2005Moens et al, , 2013Rzeznik-Orignac et al, 2008) do not examine seagrass habitats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resource utilization and trophic position of nematodes and harpacticoid copepods in and adjacent to <i>Zostera noltii</i> beds

et al. 2014

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Abstract. This study examines the resource use and trophic position of nematodes and harpacticoid copepods at the genus/species level in an estuarine food web in Zostera noltii beds and in adjacent bare sediments using the natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. Microphytobenthos and/or epiphytes are among the main resources of most taxa, but seagrass detritus and sediment particulate organic matter contribute as well to meiobenthos nutrition, which are also available in deeper sediment layers and in unvegetated patches close to seagrass beds. A predominant dependence on chemoautotrophic bacteria was demonstrated for the nematode genus Terschellingia and the copepod family Cletodidae. A predatory feeding mode is illustrated for Paracomesoma and other Comesomatidae, which were previously considered first-level consumers (deposit feeders) according to their buccal morphology. The considerable variation found in both resource use and trophic level among nematode genera from the same feeding type, and even among congeneric nematode species, shows that the interpretation of nematode feeding ecology based purely on mouth morphology should be avoided.

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“…Theristus is known to ingest suitably sized food particles like microalgae cells (Moens and Vincx 1997). Diatoms have been shown to be a prominent food resource for Theristus (Moens et al 2014). Diatoms were abundant in our samples and nematodes were frequently observed ingesting them as well as other items inside the thalli.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Saccate thallus of the red alga Halosaccion glandiforme harbor diverse invertebrate fauna

Bhaduri

Wolf

2017

Int Aquat Res

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Rocky intertidal zones are biologically diverse environments with numerous physical stressors; as such, close associations between organisms often develop to overcome such stressors and enhance survival of associates. As major components of rocky shores, macroalgae support numerous invertebrate species. In this study, we evaluated the habitat-providing role of the red alga, Halosaccion glandiforme (S.G. Gmelin) Ruprecht. This alga, also called sea sacs, is commonly found on rocky shores along the West Coast of North America. During emersion, this seaweed holds water within its saccate thallus, which can potentially serve as microhabitat for various organisms. Little is known about the composition of microfauna associated with this seaweed; as such, we documented richness and abundance of species found inside its thallus. Algal specimens were collected from Charleston, Oregon and transported to the laboratory for further analyses. Of the 119 thalli examined, 12 taxa were documented. Nematodes and copepods were the dominant taxa. Other groups represented included ostracods, turbellarians, halacarid mites, bivalves, rotifers, and three larval types (barnacle cyprids, copepod nauplii, mollusc veliger). Diatoms, crustacean molt remnants, detritus, and sand particles were also observed inside thalli. Species richness and abundance were positively correlated with thalli volume, as well as intra-thalli fluid volume. Several feeding and other behaviors of colonizers were noted; they included herbivory, predator-prey interactions, detritivory, and molting. Our findings demonstrate that H. glandiforme provide refuge for organisms from harsh environmental conditions during emersion periods, and also serve as feeding and nursery grounds for its diverse invertebrate fauna.

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Diatom feeding across trophic guilds in tidal flat nematodes, and the importance of diatom cell size

Cited by 45 publications

References 61 publications

The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

Resource utilization and trophic position of nematodes and harpacticoid copepods in and adjacent to <i>Zostera noltii</i> beds

Saccate thallus of the red alga Halosaccion glandiforme harbor diverse invertebrate fauna

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Diatom feeding across trophic guilds in tidal flat nematodes, and the importance of diatom cell size

Cited by 45 publications

References 61 publications

The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

Resource utilization and trophic position of nematodes and harpacticoid copepods in and adjacent to &lt;i&gt;Zostera noltii&lt;/i&gt; beds

Saccate thallus of the red alga Halosaccion glandiforme harbor diverse invertebrate fauna

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Resource utilization and trophic position of nematodes and harpacticoid copepods in and adjacent to <i>Zostera noltii</i> beds