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The balance between photosynthesis and grazing in Antarctic mixotrophic cryptophytes

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 20:38 authored by Marshall, W, Laybourn-Parry, J
1. Grazing and photosynthetic contributions to the carbon balance of planktonic, mixotrophic cryptophytes in Lakes Fryxell and Hoare in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica were measured during November and December 2000. 2. The cryptophytes never became entirely photosynthetic, although carbon derived from grazing decreased in December. Individual grazing rates ranged between 5.28 and 10.08 bacteria cell-1 day-1 in Lake Fryxell and 0.36-11.76 bacteria cell-1 day-1 in Lake Hoare. Grazing rates varied temporally and with depth in the water column. In Lake Fryxell, which is a meromictic lake, highest grazing occurred just above the chemocline. Individual photosynthetic rates ranged from 0.23 to 1.35 pg C cell-1 h-1 in Lake Fryxell and 0.074 to 1.08 pg C cell-1 h-1 in Lake Hoare. 3. Carbon acquisition by the cryptophyte community gained through grazing ranged between 8 and 31% during November in Lake Fryxell, dropping to between 2 and 24% in December. In Lake Hoare grazing contributed 12-21% of the community carbon budget in November and 1-28% in December. Around 4% of the carbon acquired from grazing and photosynthesis was remineralised through respiration. 4. Mixotrophy is probably a major survival strategy for cryptophytes in the extreme lakes of the Dry Valleys, because perennial ice-cover severely limits light penetration to the water column, whereas these phytoflagellates are not normally mixotrophic in lower latitude lakes. The evidence suggests that mixotrophy may be a mechanism for supplementing the carbon budget, as well as a means of acquiring nutrients for growth.

History

Publication title

Freshwater Biology

Volume

47

Issue

11

Pagination

2060-2070

ISSN

0046-5070

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Biodiversity in Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments

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