Effects of rotifers, copepods and chironomid larvae on microbial communities in peatlands

Mieczan, Tomasz; Niedźwiecki, Michał; Tarkowska‐Kukuryk, Monika

doi:10.1016/j.ejop.2015.06.010

Cited by 17 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…The results of experimental studies confirm this hypothesis. A study by Mieczan et al, (2015b) shows that crustaceans can consume smaller testate amoeba taxa in peatbogs dominated by Sphagnum, while a study by Reiss and Schmid-Aaya (2011) showed that crustacean predation in combination with predation by other groups of meiofauna can significantly reduce ciliate abundance. At the same time, testate amoeba and ciliates may consume different species of protozoa (Reiss and Schmid-Aaya, 2011).…”

Section: Trophic Structure Of the Food Web-isotopic Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, thus far no studies have been carried out on seasonal variation in stable isotopes in individual elements of the food web in peatbog ecosystems. However, given the considerable dynamics of changes in the qualitative and quantitative structure of microorganisms, rotifers and crustaceans in peatbog ecosystems (Mieczan, ; Marcisz et al, ; Mieczan et al, ), it seems that similar variation should be expected in the flow of energy through the microbiological food web to higher trophic levels. Therefore, in this study we analysed trophic relationships from the producer level to the consumer level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stable isotope analyses revealed high seasonal dynamics in the food web structure of a peatbog

Mieczan

Niedźwiecki

Adamczuk

et al. 2015

Internat. Rev. Hydrobiol.

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Stable isotope analysis has become a powerful tool for the study of food web structures in aquatic communities. However, there has been little recognition of the spatial and temporal variabilities of isotopes in food webs in peatbogs. Here, we investigated the structure of food web in peatbog dominated by Sphagnum mosses by analyzing: (i) density and biomass of different components of food webs; (ii) the digestive vacuole contents of Hyalosphenia papilio—the most abundant species of amoebae occurring in peatbog; (iii) the seasonal changes in the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures of particular components of food web. The study was performed in the Moszne peatbog located in the western part of Polesie Lubelskie (eastern Poland). Fieldwork was done on a monthly basis from April to November 2013. The largest total biomass of microorganisms in all of the seasons was noted in testate amoebae. Algae and cyanobacteria were the second largest group of microorganisms. The feeding behaviour of H. papilio varied throughout season. Among the identified prey, the highest frequency was noted in algae, cyanobacteria and ciliates. In spring and summer, prey was dominated by phycoflora, while during the autumn period the main prey consisted of cyanobacteria and ciliates. The results of the study indicate significant seasonal variation in the level of stable isotopes in individual components (bacteria, fungi, protozoa and metazoa) of the food web of peatbog, and thus also considerable dynamics of changes between trophic levels.

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Section: Trophic Structure Of the Food Web-isotopic Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable isotope analyses revealed high seasonal dynamics in the food web structure of a peatbog

Mieczan

Niedźwiecki

Adamczuk

et al. 2015

Internat. Rev. Hydrobiol.

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“…This is especially the case in ombrotrophic peatlands, where cryptogams such as Sphagnum mosses can dominate the ecosystem (Yu et al, 2011). Sphagnum mosses form expansive carpets that provide a habitat for a large diversity of microbial communities (Gilbert et al, 1998; Jassey et al, 2013, 2015; Bragina et al, 2014; Mieczan et al, 2015a, b). The Sphagnum microbiome is structured in a microbial food web constituted by bacteria, fungi (decomposers), protists (producers, predators, top-predators), and small-sized metazoan (predators, top-predators).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Sphagnum Leachate on Competitive Sphagnum Microbiome Depend on Species and Time

et al. 2019

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Plant specialized metabolites play an important role in soil carbon (C) and nutrient fluxes. Through anti-microbial effects, they can modulate microbial assemblages and associated microbial-driven processes, such as nutrient cycling, so to positively or negatively cascade on plant fitness. As such, plant specialized metabolites can be used as a tool to supplant competitors. These compounds are little studied in bryophytes. This is especially notable in peatlands where Sphagnum mosses can dominate the vegetation and show strong interspecific competition. Sphagnum mosses form carpets where diverse microbial communities live and play a crucial role in Sphagnum fitness by regulating C and nutrient cycling. Here, by means of a microcosm experiment, we assessed to what extent moss metabolites of two Sphagnum species (S. fallax and S. divinum) modulate the competitive Sphagnum microbiome, with particular focus on microbial respiration. Using a reciprocal leachate experiment, we found that interactions between Sphagnum leachates and microbiome are species-specific. We show that both Sphagnum leachates differed in compound richness and compound relative abundance, especially sphagnum acid derivates, and that they include microbial-related metabolites. The addition of S. divinum leachate on the S. fallax microbiome immediately reduced microbial respiration (−95%). Prolonged exposition of S. fallax microbiome to S. divinum leachate destabilized the food web structure due to a modulation of microbial abundance. In particular, leachate addition decreased the biomass of testate amoebae and rotifers but increased that of ciliates. These changes did not influence microbial CO2 respiration, suggesting that the structural plasticity of the food web leads to its functional resistance through the replacement of species that are functionally redundant. In contrast, S. fallax leachate neither affected S. divinum microbial respiration, nor microbial biomass. We, however, found that S. fallax leachate addition stabilized the food web structure associated to S. divinum by changing trophic interactions among species. The differences in allelopathic effects between both Sphagnum leachates might impact their competitiveness and affect species distribution at local scale. Our study further paves the way to better understand the role of moss and microbial specialized metabolites in peatland C dynamics.

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“…Changes in the abundance of individual ciliate taxa may also have resulted from trophic interactions within this group of organisms; a study by Jürgens et al (1999) showed that the abundance of small ciliate species, such as Halteria, may be successfully controlled by large predatory species. Mieczan et al (2015) also showed that large predatory or omnivorous ciliates (Paradileptus elephantinus) may control the abundance of small-sized taxa. At the same time, a significant increase was noted in mixotrophic taxa, mainly Paramecium bursaria, in acidic peat pools in the temperate climate zone and in lowfertility pools in the polar climate zone.…”

Section: Functional Groups Of Ciliatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ciliates in different types of pools in temperate, tropical, and polar climate zones – implications for climate change

Mieczan

Bronowicka‐Mielniczuk

2021

J Limnol

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Small water bodies are typically characterized by high diversity of various groups of microorganisms. Moreover, these ecosystems react very quickly to even the slightest climate changes (e.g. a temperature increase or water level fluctuations). Thus far, studies of planktonic ciliates in small water bodies having different origins and located in various climate zones have been scarce. Our study aimed to verify the following hypotheses: planktonic ciliate assemblages exhibit higher diversity in pools with higher concentrations of biogenic compounds; pools in warmer climates have higher biodiversity of planktonic ciliates than those in the polar climate zone; individual functional groups of ciliates demonstrate considerable diversity, both between individual pool types and between climate zones. The study was conducted in 21 small pools in temperate, tropical, and polar climate zones. While the type of pool clearly influenced the makeup of microbial communities, the influence of climate was stronger. The factors with the greatest influence on the occurrence of these microorganisms were temperature, total organic carbon, and nutrients. Our results show that in warmer climates the abundance of bacterivorous ciliates is higher, while that of mixotrophs is lower. This has consequences for modelling of climate change and assessment of its influence on the carbon cycle in small water body ecosystems.

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Effects of rotifers, copepods and chironomid larvae on microbial communities in peatlands

Cited by 17 publications

References 56 publications

Stable isotope analyses revealed high seasonal dynamics in the food web structure of a peatbog

Stable isotope analyses revealed high seasonal dynamics in the food web structure of a peatbog

Effects of Sphagnum Leachate on Competitive Sphagnum Microbiome Depend on Species and Time

Ciliates in different types of pools in temperate, tropical, and polar climate zones – implications for climate change

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