Abstract
In order to study the effect of the nitrogen:silicon (N:Si) ratio on temperate microplankton food webs, mesocosm experiments were conducted in Trondheim (Norway) using two different ratios (molar ratios of 1:1 and 4:1). With the exception of diatoms, the increase in abundance of all microbial groups [phototrophic nanoflagellates, autotrophic dinoflagellates, bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNAN), heterotrophic microflagellates and ciliates] was significantly greater in the high N:Si treatment. Midway through the experiment, HNAN biovolume exceeded that of bacteria in the high N:Si treatment, indicating strong top-down grazing control. Heterotrophic microflagellate biovolume exceeded ciliate biovolume under both nutrient regimes. However, heterotrophic plankton failed to respond rapidly to increased diatom biomass. The heterotrophic:autotrophic biovolume ratio remained
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1485-1495 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | J PLANKTON RES |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2003 |
Keywords
- PLANKTONIC COMMUNITIES
- PHYTOPLANKTON BIOMASS
- COPEPOD REPRODUCTION
- MARINE DIATOMS
- MISSISSIPPI RIVER
- Marine & Freshwater Biology
- LIMITED GROWTH
- SILICON
- ANNUAL CYCLE
- Oceanography
- NUTRIENT
- FOOD QUALITY