Ciliate ecology in the eutrophic Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario: Community structure and feeding characteristics†
Keywords:
Ciliophora, protozoa, microbial ecology, eutrophication, trophic interactionsAbstract
The ciliate community of the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario was assessed over a six year period from 2003 – 2008. One eutrophic site in the upper bay (Belleville) and one more oligotrophic site in the lower bay (Conway), were included in the survey. Both sites contained a mixture of Haptoria, Strobilidium, Halteria, Strombidium, and Vorticella, although the relative proportions varied among sites resulting in different community structures. Ciliate biomass was found to be significantly higher at Belleville (mean: 100.2 ± 14.1 mg m−3) compared to Conway (mean: 37.1 ± 3.5 mg m−3), but could be explained by sudden pulses of Haptoria, primarily species of Mesodinium, which peaked as high as 678.1 mg m−3. Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed a clustering of Halteria, Strobilidium, Tintinnina, Urotricha and Vorticella with surface temperature along with autotrophic picoplankton as a potential prey item. The results suggest that autotrophic picoplankton may be an important food resource for the ciliate community and that there is a strong seasonal gradient to community structure. Future research should be directed at understanding how ciliates influence the transfer of both primary and secondary production to higher trophic levels.
References
Arndt, H.
, 1993. Rotifers as predators on components of the microbial web (bacteria, heterotrophic flagellates, ciliates) – a review. Hydrobiol. 255/256, 231–246. doi:10.1007/BF00025844
Azam, F.
, Fenchel, T.
, Field. J.G.
, Gray, J.S.
, Meyer-Reil, L.A.
, Thingstad, F.
, 1983. The ecological role of water-column microbes in the sea. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 10, 257–263. doi:10.3354/meps010257
Beaver, J.R.
, Crisman, T.L.
, 1989. The role of ciliated protozoa in pelagic freshwater ecosystems. Microb. Ecol. 17, 111–136. doi:10.1007/BF02011847
Bowen, K.L.
, Johannsson, O.E.
, 2011. Changes in zooplankton biomass in the Bay of Quinte with the arrival of the mussels, Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostiformis bugensis, and the predatory cladoceran, Cercopagis pengoi: 1975 to 2008. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Mgmt. 14(1), 44–55. doi:10.1080/14634988.2011.550528
Carrias, J.F.
, Thouvenot, A.
, Amblard, C.
, Sime-Ngando, T.
, 2001. Dynamics and growth estimates of planktonic protists during early spring in Lake Pavin, France. Aquat. Microb. Ecol. 24, 163–174 doi:10.3354/ame024163
Carrick, H.J.
, 2005. An under-appreciated component of biodiversity in plankton communities: the role of protozoa in Lake Michigan (a case study). Hydrobiol. 551, 17–32. doi:10.1007/s10750-005-4447-0
Carrick, H.J.
and Fahnenstiel G.L.
, 1990. Planktonic Protozoa in Lakes Huron and Michigan: Seasonal Abundance and Composition of Ciliates and Dinoflagellates. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 16(2), 319–329. doi:10.1016/S0380-1330(90)71424-4
Foissner, W.
, Berger, H.
, Schaumburg, J.
, 1999. Identification and ecology of limnetic plankton ciliates. des Bayer. Landesamtes für Wasserwirtschaft. (Bayer’s information section. State Office for Water Management. in German). Heft 3/99.
Gilbert, J. J.
, 1994. Jumping behavior in the oligotrichs Strobilidium velox and Halteria grandinella, and its significance as a defense against rotifer predators. Microb. Ecol. 27, 189–200. doi:10.1007/BF00165817
Hyatt, C. V.
, Paterson, A. M.
, Cumming, B. F.
, and Smol, J. P.
, 2010. Factors related to regional and temporal variation in the distribution of scaled chrysophytes in north-eastern North America: Evidence from lake sediments. Nova Hedwigia, 87–102.
Jerome, C.A.
, Montagnes, D.J.S.
, Taylor, F.J.R.
, 1993. The effect of the quantitative protargol stain and Lugol’s and Bouin’s fixatives on cell size: a more accurate estimate of ciliate species biomass. J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 40, 254–259. doi:10.1111/j.1550-7408.1993.tb04913.x
Jürgens, K.
, Skibbe, O.
, Jeppesen, E.
, 1999. Impact of metazooplankton on the composition and population dynamics of planktonic ciliates in a shallow, hypertrophic lake. Aquat. Microb. Ecol. 17, 61–75. doi:10.3354/ame017061
Kalin, M.
, Wheeler, W. N.
, and Olaveson, M. M.
, 2006: Response of phytoplankton to ecological engineering remediation of a Canadian Shield Lake affected by acid mine drainage. Ecological Engineering, 28, 296–310. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2006.08.010
Lischke, B.
, Weithoff, G.
, Wickham, S.
, Attermeyer, K.
, Grossart, H.
, Scharnweber, K.
, Hllt, S.
, Gaedke, U.
Large biomass of small feeders: ciliates may dominate herbivory in eutrophic lakes. Journal of Plankton Research. 38(1), 2–15 doi:10.1093/plankt/fbv102
Lynn D.H.
The ciliated protozoa – characterization, classification, and guide to the literature, Springer, Heidelberg.
Lynn, D.H.
, Munawar, M.
, 1999. Abundance, biomass, and diversity of planktonic ciliates (Ciliophora) in Lake Erie. In:
M. Munawar
,
T. Edsall
,
If. Munawar
(Eds.), State of Lake Erie (SOLE) - Past, Present and Future, pp. 155–168. Ecovision World Monograph Series, Backhuys Publishers, Leiden.
Lynn, D.H.
, Munawar, M.
, Carou, S.
, Niblock, H.
, Humby, P.L.
, 2003. Abundance, biomass and diversity of planktonic ciliates (Ciliophora) in Lake Ontario. In:
M. Munawar
(Ed.), State of Lake Ontario (SOLO), past, present and future, pp.171–186. Ecovision World Monograph Series. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
Minns, C.K.
, Munawar, M.
, Koops, M.A.
, Millard E.S.
, 2011. Long term ecosystem studies in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, 1972-2008: A prospectus. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Mgmt. 14(1), 3–8. doi:10.1080/14634988.2011.551750
Montagnes, D.J.S.
, Lynn, D.H.
A quantitative protargol stain (QPS) for ciliates and other protists. In:
P.F. Kemp
,
B.F. Sherr
,
E.B. Sherr
,
J.J. Cole
(Eds.), Handbook of methods in aquatic microbial ecology, pp. 229–240. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton.
Montagnes, D. J. S.
,. Lynn, D. H
, Roff, J.C.
,Taylor, W.D.
, 1988. The annual cycle of heterotrophic planktonic ciliates in the waters surrounding the Isles of Shoals, Gulf of Maine: An assessment of their trophic role. Mar. Biol. 99, 21–30. doi:10.1007/BF00644973
Munawar, M.
, Lynn, D. H.
, 2002. Planktonic ciliates of the North American Great Lakes: Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health and Mgmt, 5(3), 345–354. doi:10.1080/14634980290032027
Munawar, M.
, Legner, M.
, Munawar, I.F.
, 2003. Assessing the microbial foodweb of Lake Ontario. In:
M. Munawar
(Ed.), State of Lake Ontario (SOLO), past, present and future, pp.171–186. Ecovision World Monograph Series. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
Munawar, M.
, Fitzpatrick, M.
, Munawar, I.F.
, Niblock, H.
, 2010. Checking the pulse of Lake Ontario’s microbial-planktonic communities: a trophic transfer hypothesis. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Mgmt. 13(4), 395–412. doi:10.1080/14634988.2010.534412
Munawar, M
, Fitzpatrick, M.
, Niblock, H.
and Lorimer, J.
The relative importance of autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial communities in the planktonic foodweb of the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario 2000-2007. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health and Mgmt.14(1), 21–32. doi:10.1080/14634988.2011.551102
Munawar, M.
, Munawar, I.F.
, Fitzpatrick, M.
, 2013. Microbial foodweb comparison of the Laurentian Great Lakes during the summers of 2001-2004. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Mgmt.16(3), 267–278. doi:10.1080/14634988.2013.826115
Munawar, M.
, Fitzpatrick, M.
, Niblock, H.
, Kling, H.
, Lorimer, J.
, Rozon, R.
, 2018. Phytoplankton ecology in the Bay of Quinte: spatial distribution, dynamics and heterogeneity. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Mgmt. 21(2), 213–226. doi:10.1080/14634988.2018.1474058
Nicholls, K.H.
and Carney, E.
, 2011. The phytoplankton of the Bay of Quinte, 1972–2008: point-source phosphorus loading control, Driessenid mussel establishment, and a proposed community reference. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Mgmt 14(1), 33–43. doi:10.1080/14634988.2011.550847
Porter, K.
, Pace, M.L.
, Battey, J.F.
, 1979. Ciliated protozoans as links in freshwater food chains. Nature 277: 563–565. doi:10.1038/277563a0
Roff, J.C.
, Hopcroft, R.R.
, 1986. High precision microcomputer based measuring system for ecological research. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 43, 2044–2048. doi:10.1139/f86-251
Sanders, R.
, Wickham, S.A.
, 1993. Planktonic protists and metazoa: Predation, food quality and population control. Mar. Microb. Foodwebs 7, 197–223.
Sherr, E. B.
, Sherr, B. F.
, 1994. Bacterivory and herbivory: Key roles of phagotrophic protists in pelagic foodwebs. Microb. Ecol. 28, 223–235 doi:10.1007/BF00166812
Šimek, K.
, Jürgens, K.
, Nedoma, J.
, Comerma, M.
, Armengol, J.
, 2000. Ecological role and bacterial grazing of Halteria spp.: small freshwater oligotrichs as dominant pelagic ciliate bacterivores. Aquatic Microb. Ecol. 22, 43–56. doi:10.3354/ame022043
Taylor, W.D.
, Johansson, O.E.
A comparison of estimates of productivity and consumption by zooplankton and planktonic ciliates in Lake Ontario. J. Plankton Res. 13(2), 363–372. doi:10.1093/plankt/13.2.363
ter Braak, C.
, Verdonschot, P.
, 1995. Canonical correspondence analysis and related multivariate methods in aquatic ecology. Aquatic Sciences 57(3), 1015–1621. doi:10.1007/BF00877430
Weisse, T.
, Müller, H.
, 1998. Planktonic protozoa and the microbial foodweb in Lake Constance. Lake Constance: Characterization of an ecosystem in transition, 223–254.
Wickham, S. A.
, Gilbert, J. J.
, 1991: Relative vulnerabilities of natural rotifer and ciliate communities in cladocerans: laboratory and field experiments. Freshwat. Biol. 26, 77–86. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.1991.tb00510.x
WoRMS Editorial Board
, 2020, World Register of Marine Species. Available from http://www.marinespecies.org at VLIZ. Accessed 2020-01-16. doi:10.14284/170
Zingel, P.
, Agasild, H.
, Karus, K.
, Buholce, H.
, Noges, T.
, 2019. Importance of ciliates as food for fish larvae in a shallow sea bay and a large shallow lake. European Journal of Protistology 67, 59–70. doi:10.1016/j.ejop.2018.10.004
Published
Issue
Section
License
Manuscripts must be original. They must not be published or be under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part. It is required that the lead author of accepted papers complete and sign the MSU Press AEHM Author Publishing Agreement and provide it to the publisher upon acceptance.
