Clearance rates of sessile rotifers: In situ determinations

Clearance rates of three sessile and four free-swimming rotifer species from a small acid bog-pond were measured using in situ techniques. Three radioactively labeled cell types, an alga (Chlamydomonas), a bacterium (Enterobacter = Aerobacter), and a yeast (Rhodotorula) were used as tracers. Clearance rates (using yeast) ranged from <1.0 to >250 µl · animal^?1 · h^?1 depending on species. Ptygura crystallina, Ptygura pilula, Floscularia conifera, and an unidentified bdelloid ingested all three foods with substantial variation in clearance rates among species and cell type. There was an insignificant error (<0.3%) in clearance rate associated with non-ingestive uptake of radioactivity. Among the free-swimming taxa, Lecane sp. had a clearance rate of <0.5 µl · animal^?1 · h^?1 on yeast, while another Lecane sp. and Trichotria tetractis did not ingest that cell type.     

Rotifers as predators on small ciliates

Clearance rates of Synchaeta pectinata, Brachionus calyciflorus and Asplanchna girodi on Tetrahymena pyriformis (46 µm in length) at a density of 10 cells ml^–1, in the presence of algal food, were 2.5 to 6.1 ml rot.^–1 day^–1. Clearance rates of these rotifers were, respectively, about 2, 3, and 13 times lower on Strobilidium gyrans (58 µm in length) than on T. pyriformis, indicating that the saltations of S. gyrans are an effective escape response. Clearance rates of S. pectinata were considerably lower on Colpidium striatum (81 µm) than on S. gyrans, suggesting that S. pectinata may not be able to ingest ciliates of this size. S. pectinata had a clearance rate of 19 ml rot.^–1 day^–1 on S. gyrans at a density of 1.2 cells ml^–1, in the absence of edible algal food. Rotifers may prey extensively on ciliates in natural plankton communities, ingesting 25 to 50 individuals in the 45–60 µm size range day^–1.     

Suspension feeding in Bithynia tentaculata (Prosobranchia,Bithyniidae), as affected by body size,food and temperature

The suspension feeding of Bithynia tentaculata was tested in laboratory experiments. The animals were fed in 1-1 aerated glass beakers, and filtration rates were calculated from changes in cell concentrations during the 6-h experiment. Temperature influenced the filtering rate, with minimum values of 5ml · ind^–1 · h^–1 at 5° C and maxima of 17.2 ml · ind^–1 · h^–1 at 18° C. Three food species of different size, motility and cell surface characteristics (Chlamydomonas reinhardii, Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorogonium elongatum) did not affect filtration rates. Suspension feeding increased with increasing food concentrations up to 12 nl · ml^–1, above which feeding rate was kept constant by lowering the filtering rates. Even the smallest animals tested (<4 mm body length) were found to be feeding on suspended food at a rate of 2.7 ml · ind^–1 · h^–1, and increasing rates up to 8.4 ml were found in the 6–7 mm size class. All size classes of Bithynia showed a circannual fluctuation of their filtration rates. The ecological consequences of Bithynia's ability to switch between two feeding modes, grazing and suspension feeding, are discussed.     

Feeding kinetics of Brachionus plicatilis fed Isochrysis galbana

Clearance and ingestion rates of Brachionus plicatilis were measured using ¹⁴C-labeled Isochrysis galbana Tahiti. Experiments were conducted at 20–22 °C, 20 ppt salinity, and algal concentrations ranging from 0.13–64 mg C 1^–1. Clearance rates were constant and maximal at concentrations <2 mg C 1^–1, with maximum rates ranging from 3.4–6.9 µl ind.^–1 hr^–1. The ingestion rate varied with food concentration, and was described by a rectilinear model. The maximum ingestion rate varied considerably, and was dependent on the growth rate of the rotifers. Depending on the pre-conditions, B. plicatilis ingested about 0.5 to 2 times its body carbon per day at saturating food concentrations.     

Zooplankton as a compound mineralising and synthesizing system: phosphorus excretion

Data on phosphate excretion rates of zooplankton are based on measurements using the pelagic crustacean zooplankton of Lake Vechten and laboratory-cultured Daphnia galeata. In case of Daphnia sp we measured the effects of feeding on P-rich algae and P-poor algae (Scenedesmus) as food on the P-excretion rates at 20°C. The excretion rates of the natural zooplankton community, irrespective of the influence of the factors mentioned, varied by an order of magnitude: 0.025–0.275µg PO₄-Pmg^–1C in zooplankton (C _zp ) h^–1. The temperature accounted for about half the observed variation in excretion rates. The mean excretion rates in the lake, computed for 20°C, varied between 0.141 and 0.260 µg Pmg^–1C _zp h^–1. Based on data of zooplankton biomass in the lake the P-regeneration rates by zooplankton covered between 22 and 239% of the P-demand of phytoplankton during the different months of the study period.In D. galeata, whereas the C/P ratios of the Scenedesmus used as food differed by a factor 5 in the experiments, the excretion rates differed by factor 3 only. Despite the higher P-excretion rates (0.258± 0.022 µg PO₄-P mg^–1 C h^–1) of the daphnids fed with P-rich food than those fed with P-poor food (0.105 ± 0.047 µg PO₄-P mg^–1 C h^p–1), both the categories of the animals were apparently conserving P. A survey of the literature on zooplankton excretion shows that in Daphnia the excretion rates vary by a factor 30, irrespective of the species and size of animals and method of estimation and temperature used.About two-thirds of this variation can be explained by size and temperature. A major problem of comparability of studies on P-regeneration by zooplankton relates to the existing techniques of P determination, which necessitates concentrating the animals several times above the in situ concentration (crowding) and prolonged experimental duration (starving), both of which manifest in marked changes that probably lead to underestimation of the real rates.     

Grazing and assimilation rates of natural populations of planktonic rotifersKeratella cochlearis,Keratella quadrata andKellicottia longispina in a eutrophic lake (Aydat,France)

The filtering rates of¹⁴C labelledChlamydomonas sp. by 3 dominant species of rotifers were studied in eutrophic Lake Aydat. They varied from 4 to 53 µl ind^–1 h^–1 forKeratella cochlearis, from 2 to 56 µl.^–1h^–1 forKeratella quadrata and from 3 to 52 µl ind^–1 h^–1 forKellicottia longispina. Their maximum assimilation efficiency was 32%. At the measured grazing rates, these populations could clear the water in less than two days during July. In Lake Aydat, the rotifers community could play an important role in the regulation of seasonal succession of phytoplankton and bacteria.     

Factors affecting the distribution, abundance and diversity of fishes of small, soft-substrata tidal pools within Moreton Bay, Australia

Clearance rates of Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia) were investigated in laboratory experiments using monocultures of the alga Chlorella vulgaris. Experimental conditions included two mollusc sizes (15 and 23 mm), and three water temperatures (15, 20 and 25 °C) covering the normal seasonal range in the lower Paraná river and Río de la Plata estuary. Filtration rates obtained were, for the larger mussels: 9.9, 13.1 and 17.7 ml mg tissue dry weight^–1 h^–1 at 15, 20 and 25 °C, respectively; and for the smaller ones: 17.7, 20.8 and 29.5 ml mg^–1 h^–1. Differences between sizes and between temperatures (except 15 vs. 20 °C) were statistically significant. In absolute terms larger animals have higher clearance rates, but as a function of body mass smaller individuals feed more actively. Within the range of experimental values used, filtration rates were positively associated with water temperature. These clearance rates (125–350 ml individual^–1 h^–1) are among the highest reported for suspension feeding bivalves, including the invasive species Dreissena polymorpha, D. bugensis and Corbicula fluminea. High filtration rates, associated with the very high densities of this mollusc in the Paraná watershed (up to over 200,000 ind m^–2) suggest that its environmental impact may be swiftly changing ecological conditions in the areas colonized.     

Feeding in Euchlanis dilatata lucksiana Hauer on filamentous cyanobacteria and a prochlorophyte

Ingestion and assimilation rates of Euchlanis dilatata lucksiana Hauer, isolated from Lake Loosdrecht (The Netherlands) and cultured on lake water (seston < 33 µm), were measured in the laboratory using the ¹⁴C-tracer technique. The five taxa used as tracer foods, together with 6–7 mg C l^–1 of lake seston in each case, included four species of filamentous cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria redekei, O. limnetica, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Anabaena PCC 7120) and a prochlorophyte (Prochlorothrix hollandica). Except Anabaena, they are all commonly encountered in eutrophic Loosdrecht lakes, including Lake Loosdrecht, and their dimensions ranged between 150 and 250 µm in length and 2 and 3.5 µm in width. The small and large Euchlanis used as experimental animals had mean lengths of 217–223 µm and 276–305 µm, respectively. Euchlanis fed on all the taxa offered as food. Clearance rates ranged from 51 to 99 µl ind^–1 d^–1 for the large animals and from 22 to 41 µl ind^–1 d^–1 for the small animals. The highest ingestion rate observed, 1.7 µg ind^–1 d^–1, was for the large animals feeding on Aphanizomenon. The daily ration for both size classes far exceeded 100% of body weight, reaching up to 690% for the small animals feeding on Aphanizomenon. The small animals generally appeared to assimilate the ingested food more efficiently (assimilation efficiencies: 37–100%) than the large animals (34–77%). Compared with an earlier study in which only lake seston (<33 µm) was used as food, the specific clearance rates of Euchlanis on the cyanobacteria and Prochlorothrix were generally somewhat lower.     

Daytime grazing and assimilation rates of planktonic copepods Acanthodiaptomus denticornis and Cyclops vicinus vicinus. Comparison of spatial and resource utilisation by rotifers and cladoceran communities in a eutrophic lake

The clearance rates of ¹⁴ carbon-labelled Chlamydomonas sp. by the copepodite and adult stages of the 2 dominant species of Copepoda were studied in eutrophic Lake Aydat. They varied from 30 to 3,007 µl ind^–1 h^–1 for Acanthodiaptomus denticornis (mean = 600 µl ind^–1 h^–1) and from 20 to 1,133 µl ind^–1 h^–1 for Cyclops vicinus (mean = 340 µl ind^–1 h^–1). Their maximum assimilation efficiencies were 58% and 50%, respectively. These populations collectively could consume the available food in 4 days during September (maximum daily grazing rate = 24%). Mean individual clearance rates could be ranked Acanthodiaptomus denticornis > Ceriodaphnia quadrangula > Chydorus sphaericus > Daphnia longispina > Cyclops vicinus vicinus > Bosmina longirostris > K. cochlearis > K. quadrata and Kellicottia longispina. Like cladocerans and rotifers, the copepods living in this eutrophic lake can feed at low oxygen concentrations.     

A laboratory study of phosphorus and nitrogen excretion of Euchlanis dilatata lucksiana

Phosphorus (PO₄-P) and nitrogen (NH₄-N) excretion rates of Euchlanis dilatata lucksiana, a rotifer, isolated from Lake Loosdrecht (The Netherlands) and cultured in the lake water at 18–19 °C, were measured in the laboratory.In a series of experiments, the effects of experiment duration on the P and N excretion rates were examined. The rates measured in the first half-hour were about 2 times higher for P and 2–4 times for N than the rates in the subsequent three successive hours which were quite comparable.Eight experiments were carried out in triplicate, 4 each for P and N excretion measurements, using animals of two size ranges: 60–125 µm and > 125 µm. The specific excretion rates varied from 0.06 to 0.18 µg P.mg^–1 DW.h^–1 and 0.21 to 0.76 µg N.mg^–1 DW.h^–1. Generally an inverse relationship was observed between the specific excretion rates and the mean individual weight. The excretion rates of Euchlanis measured by us are lower than those reported for several other rotifer species, most of which are much smaller than Euchlanis.Extrapolating the excretion rates of Euchlanis to the other rotifer species in Lake Loosdrecht, and accounting for their density, size and temperature, rotifer excretion appears to be a significant, potential nutrient (N,P) source for phytoplankton growth in the lake. The excretion rates for the rotifers appear to be about two thirds of the total zooplankton excretion, even though the computed rotifer mean biomass is about one-third of the total zooplankton biomass.     

Clearance rates of bacteria by the rotifer Filinia longiseta (Ehrb.) measured using three tracers

The clearance rates (CRs) of bacteria by Filinia longiseta were measured at 19°C, both in situ in Lake Loosdrecht and in the laboratory during summer. The tracer particles used in the field were: (1) 0.51 µm fluorescent microspheres, and (2) fluorescently labelled bacteria (FLB). A third type of tracer particle, natural [methyl-³H]-thymidine-labelled bacteria (< 1.2 µm), were used as a radiotracer in a laboratory experiment. The uptake of the first two tracer-particle types was measured by microscopic examination of the rotifer guts. In the third case, the uptake of radioactivity was determined by liquid scintillation counting. The rate of uptake of the microspheres decreased 10 min after the start of the experiment, probably because the gut passage time was exceeded. Using a 5 min feeding time, the rate of uptake of microspheres was higher than that of the FLB, though the variation in the uptake in both cases was high. The ingestion rates and CRs of bacteria by F. longiseta based on the fluorescent tracers were: microspheres, 5115 bact.ind^–1 h^–1 and 0.368 µl ind^–1 h^–1; FLB, 2252 bact.ind^–1 h^–1 and 0.162 µl ind^–1 h^–1. The mean CR using the thymidine-labelled natural bacteria and a 10 min feeding time was 0.179 µl ind^–1 h^–1. Thus, the CR based on the microsphere method was twice as high as for the other two methods.     

Renal function at steady state in a toad (Bufo viridis) acclimated in hyperosmotic NaCl and urea solutions

Kidney function of the euryhaline toad Bufo viridis was studied in animals acclimated to tap water and solutions of NaCl (230 and 500 mosmol · kg^-1 H₂O) and urea (500 mmol · l^-1) in steady-state conditions. An ureter was eatheterized for continuous urine collection and blood was sampled from an iliac artery. A single injection of ³H-inulin served for estimation of glomerular filtration rate: this was in the range of 15–27 ml · kg^-1 · h^-1 and did not differ significantly in any of the acclimation conditions. Urine flow, on the other hand, varied considerably and was highest in tap water (18.2±3.2 ml · kg^-1 · h^-1; urine/plasma inulin ratio=0.88), lower in 230 mosmol · kg^-1 H₂O NaCl solution (13.5±3.9 ml · kg^-1 · h^-1; u/p inulin ratio=1.73) and lowest in 500 mosmol · kg^-1 H₂O NaCl or urea acclimation solutions (5–7 ml · kg^-1 · h^-1; u/p inulin=3.7–4.2). Clearance of free water was high in the tap water group, lower in 230 mosmol · kg^-1 H₂O NaCl solution, and much lower in the hyperosmotic acclimation conditions. Clearances of both Na⁺ and Cl^- were similar under our experimental conditions, but changed independently in accordance to the composition of the acclimation solution. Potassium clearance was similar in all acclimation conditions, and a constant plasma K⁺ concentration was maintained. Urea clearance was high in tap water and 500 mmol · l^-1 urea acclimation groups and low in the NaCl acclimations. The experiments show that the glomerular filtration rate remains more or less unchanged in all acclimation conditions, and suggest that the different rates of urine flow at steady state must be due mostly to tubular processes. The final composition of the urine is the result of specific and highly selective tubular processes.Abbreviations %T fractional reabsorbance - AVT argine vasotocin - C _{free water} free water clearance - C _osmol osmolyte clearance - GFR glomerular filtration rate - MS-222 methanetricaine sulphonate - U/P urine to plasma inulin ratio - V volume     

Trophic interactions among heterotrophic microplankton,nanoplankton, and bacteria in Lake Constance

A considerable portion of the pelagic energy flow in Lake Constance (FRG) is channelled through a highly dynamic microbial food web. In-situ experiments using the lake water dilution technique according to Landry & Hasset (1982) revealed that grazing by heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) smaller than 10 µm is the major loss factor of bacterial production. An average flagellate ingests 10 to 100 bacteria per hour. Nano- and micro-ciliates have been identified as the main predators of HNF. If no other food is used between 3 and 40 HNF are consumed per ciliate and hour. Other protozoans and small metazoans such as rotifers are of minor importance in controlling HNF population dynamics.Clearance rates varied between 0.2 and 122.8 nl HNF^–1 h^–1 and between 0.2 and 53.6 µl ciliate^–1 h^–1, respectively.Ingestion and clearance rates measured for HNF and ciliates are in good agreement with results obtained by other investigators from different aquatic environments and from laboratory cultures. Both the abundance of all three major microheterotrophic categories — bacteria, HNF, and ciliates — and the grazing pressure within the microbial loop show pronounced seasonal variations.     

Relative importance of the trophic and direct pathways on PCB contamination in the rotifer species Brachionus calyciflorus (Pallas)

To determine the contribution of food ingestion (trophic pathway) to PCB contamination of zooplankton in the river Meuse (Belgium), we used ¹⁴C-labelled algae (Dictyosphaerium ehrenbergianum) to measure ingestion and assimilation rates in the rotifer species Brachionus calyciflorus. When the concentration of algae in the culture medium varied from 20 10³ to 200 10³ algal cells ml^–1 (0.12 to 1.18 mg Cl^–1), the Brachionus calyciflorus ingestion rate varied from 0.25 ± 0.12 to 1.52 ± 0.43 ng C ind^–1 h^–1 at 15 °C and from 0.74 ± 0.17 to 5.93 ± 0.61 ng C ind^–1 h^–1 at 20 °C. The assimilation efficiency (ratio of the assimilation rate to the ingestion rate) measured in a culture medium containing 200 10³ algal cells ml^–1 was 55.7 ± 5.8%. Since the PCB concentration measured in the phytoplankton of the river Meuse is about 3 µg PCBs g^–1 D.W., the estimated PCB contamination of zooplankton ascribable to the trophic pathway ranges from 0.22 ± 0.17 to 1.31 ± 0.77 µg PCBs g^–1 D.W. at 15 °C and from 0.64 ± 0.34 to 5.10 ± 2.10 µg PCBs g^–1 D.W. at 20°C. The lower figure based on measurements effected at 20 °C is comparable to the actual level measured in zooplankton samples collected in the river Meuse (0.69 ± 0.20 µg PCBs g^–1 D.W.). The applicability of the formula used in our estimate was checked in a 48-hour in vitro experiment in which the rotifers were fed contaminated algae. The PCB accumulation measured in the rotifers was found to coincide with the calculated PCB contamination. Additional experiments were carried out to determine the contribution of the direct pathway to PCB contamination of zooplankton living in the river Meuse (0.02 µg PCBs l^–1 of water; average dissolved organic matter: 3 mg C 1^–1). The PCB concentration in zooplankton resulting from direct uptake of PCBs from the water was estimated at 0.19 ± 0.05 µg PCBs g^–1 D.W. These results show that in zooplankton living in polluted ecosystems, PCBs are likely to accumulate via the trophic pathway to concentrations up to 30 times higher than by direct contamination. Furthermore, our estimates of PCB contamination via the trophic pathway coincide quite well with actual concentrations measured in situ.     

Feeding the fairy shrimp Streptocephalus (Anostraca - Crustacea) with the rotifer Anuraeopsis

Laboratory-cultured Streptocephalus torvicornis were offered 8 concentrations (from 6 to 800 ind. ml^–1) of Anuraeopsis fissa for periods of 2 h 30 min. Two size classes, small (male: 14.7 mm± 1.6, female: 15.4 mm± 1.3) and large (male: 20.0 mm±2.0, female: 23.1 mm± 1.5), of S. torvicornis were used. Functional response for large S. torvicornis (both sexes) plateaued at 400 rotifers ml^–1, while in small specimens it did so at 200 prey ml^–1. Females consumed significantly more (30%) prey than males. Large males consumed maximum 4730 rotifers h^–1, females 6560 h^–1.     

The efficacy of Scenedesmus morphology as a defense mechanism against grazing by selected species of rotifers and cladocerans

Phytoplankton often develop various defense mechanisms in response to zooplankton grazing, such as spines and colonies. While it is now known that increased spine length and cells in a colony of members of the genus Scenedesmus, when zooplankton grazing is intense, helps in reducing zooplankton filtering rates, the effect of these defense mechanisms at the population level has been observed in few studies. Here we present data on the growth rates of four zooplankton species, Brachionus calyciflorus, B. patulus, Ceriodaphnia dubia and Daphnia pulex at two food levels using two species of colony-forming Scenedesmus spp.: S. acutus (cell length = 18.2 ± 0.4 µm; width = 4.2 ± 0.1 µm; average colony length = 90 µm; width: 21 µm) and S. quadricauda (cell length: 21 ± 0.5 width 7.5 ± 0.3 µm; average colony length: 84 µm; width: 30 µm). Whereas S. acutus had no spines, S. quadricauda had spines of 6–10 µm. Population growth experiments of the test rotifers and cladocerans were conducted in 100 ml containers with 50 ml of the medium with test algae. Algae concentrations used were: 13 and 52 mg dw l^–1 of each of the two algal species offered in colonial forms. We used an initial inoculation zooplankter density of 1 ind. ml^–1 for either of the rotifer species and 0.2 ind. ml^–1 for either of the cladoceran species. In all, we had 64 test containers (4 test species of zooplankton × 2 test species of algae × 2 algal densities × 4 replicates). We found a significant effect of algal size on the growth rates of all the four tested species of zooplankton. The population growth rates of zooplankton ranged from –0.58 to 0.66 and were significantly higher on diet of S. acutus than of S. quadricauda. Thus, our study confirms that the larger colony size and the formation of spines in S. quadricauda were effective defenses against grazing by both rotifers and smaller sized cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia but that larger-bodied Daphnia pulex could exploit both the algal populations equally.     

The effect of carbon dioxide on the growth kinetics of fructose-limited chemostat cultures of Acetobacterium woodii DSM 1030

The growth of the anaerobic acetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii DSM 1030 was investigated in fructose-limited chemostat cultures. A defined medium was developed which contained fructose, mineral salts, cysteine · HCl and Ca pantothenate (1 mg · 1^–1) supplied in a vitamin supplement. Growth at high dilution rates was dependent on the presence of CO₂ in the gas phase. The ^max was found to be 0.16 h^–1 and the fructose maintenance requirement was 0.1 to 0.13 mmol fructose · (g dry wt)^–1 · h^–1. A growth yield of 61 g dry wt · (mol fructose)^–1, corrected for the cell maintenance requirement and for incorporation of fructose carbon into cell biomass, was determined from the fructose consumption. A corresponding growth yield of 69 g dry wt · (mol fructose)^–1 was calculated from the acetate production assuming that fructose fermentation was homoacetogenic. A Y_ATP of 12.2 to 13.8 g dry wt · (mol ATP)^–1 was calculated from these growth yields using a value of 5 mol ATP · (mol fructose)^–1 as an estimate of the amount of ATP synthesised from fructose fermentation. The addition of yeast extract (0.5 g · 1^–1) to the medium did not influence the ^max or cell yield. After prolonged growth under fructose-limited conditions the requirement of the culture for CO₂ in the gas phase was reduced.Abbreviations YE yeast extract - IC inorganic carbon - D fermenter dilution rate : h^–1 - M_X maintenance requirement for X: mmol X · (g dry wt)^–1 · h^–1 - X may be fructose (Fruct), fructose consumed in energy metabolism (Fruct [E]), acetate (Ac) - ATP CO₂, NH _inf4 ^sup+ or Pi - qX specific rate of utilisation or consumption of X: mmol X · (g dry wt)^–1 · h^–1 - V fermenter volume: litre - rC · Cell, fermenter cell carbon production: mmol C · h^–1 - Y_X yield of cells on X: g dry wt · (mol X)^–1 - Y _infx ^supmax the yield corrected for cell maintenance: g dry wt · (mol X)^–1 - S_ATP stoichiometry of ATP synthesis from fructose: mol ATP · (mol frucose)^–1 - x cell concentration: g dry wt · 1^–1 - specific growth rate : h^–1 - ^max maximum specific growth rate: h^–1     

Primary production of phytoplankton and standing crops of zooplankton and zoobenthos in hypertrophic Lake Teganuma

Primary production of phytoplankton and standing crops of zooplankton and zoobenthos were intensively surveyed in Lake Teganuma during May 1983–April 1984. The annual mean chlorophyll a concentrations were as high as 304 µg · l^–1–383 µg · l^–1. The daily gross primary production of phytoplankton was high throughout the year. The peak production rate was recorded in August and September, when blue-green algae bloomed. The annual gross primary production was estimated as 1450 g C · m^–2 · y^–1, extremely high as compared with other temperate eutrophic lakes. Zooplankton was predominantly composed of rotifers. The annual mean standing crop of zooplankton was 0.182 g C · m^–2 around the middle between the inlets and the outlet and was lower than in most other temperate eutrophic lakes. Zoobenthos was mostly composed of Oligochaeta and chironomids. The annual mean standing crop of zoobenthos ranged from 0.052 g C · m^–2 to 0.265 g C · m^–2, the lowest values among temperate eutrophic lakes, which is in contrast to the high primary production.     

Nitrogen fixation in subarctic streams influenced by beaver (Castor canadensis)

Nitrogen fixation was measured in four subarctic streams substantially modified by beaver (Castor canadensis) in Quebec. Acetylene-ethylene (C₂H₂ C₂H₄) reduction techniques were used during the 1982 ice-free period (May–October) to estimate nitrogen fixation by microorganisms colonizing wood and sediment. Mean seasonal fixation rates were low and patchy, ranging from zero to 2.3 × 10^–3 µmol C₂H₄ · cm^–2 · h^–1 for wood, and from zero to 7.0 × 10^–3 µmol C₂H₄ · g AFDM^–1 · h^–1 for sediment; 77% of all wood and 63% of all sediment measurements showed no C₂H₂ reduction. Nonparametric statistical tests were unable to show a significant difference (p > 0.05) in C₂H₂ reduction rates between or within sites for wood species or by sediment depth.Nitrogen contributed by microorganisms colonizing wood in riffles of beaver influenced watersheds was small (e.g., 0.207 g N · m^–2 · y^–1) but greater than that for wood in beaver ponds (e.g., 0.008 g N · m^–2 · y^–1) or for streams without beaver (e.g., 0.003 g N · m^–2 · y^–1). Although mass specific nitrogen fixation rates did not change significantly as beaver transform riffles into ponds, the nitrogen fixed by organisms colonizing sediment in pond areas (e.g., 5.1 g N · m^–2 · y^–1) was greater than that in riffles (e.g., 0.42 g N · m^–2 · y^–1). The annual nitrogen contribution is proportional to the amount of sediment available for microbial colonization. We estimate that total nitrogen accumulation in sediment, per unit area, is enhanced 9 to 44 fold by beaver damming a section of stream.     

Utilization of cyanobacteria by Brachionus calyciflorus: Anabaena flos-aquae (NRC-44-1) as a sole or complementary food source

The rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus can utilize the cyanobacterium Anabaena flos-aquae as either a sole or supplementary food source in laboratory culture. Positive population growth rates accompany food densities of 10 or 100 µg dry weight ml^–1, but slightly negative rates are found at a lower density (1.0 µg ml^–1). These results are consistent for rotifers feeding on two strains of A. flos-aquae, UTEX-1444 and NRC-44-1, with slightly enhanced survivorship and reproduction with the latter food. A 1:1 mixture (by dry weight) of Euglena gracilis and A. flos-aquae (NRC-44-1) produces survivorship comparable to that of control rotifer cohorts fed E. gracilis alone, but elicits significantly greater fecundity and population growth rates than found with the control food suspension at the same biomass density.