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Mixotrophy in the Antarctic phytoflagellate Pyramimonas gelidicola McFadden (Chlorophyta: Prasinophyceae)

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 20:47 authored by Bell, EM, Laybourn-Parry, J
Grazing by the planktonic phytoflagellate, Pyramimonas gelidicola McFadden (Chlorophyta: Prasinophyta), and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNAN) in meromictic saline Ace Lake in the Vestfold Hills, eastern Antarctica was investigated in the austral summers of 1997 and 1999. Up to 47% of the P. gelidicola population ingested fluorescently labeled prey (FLP). Ingestion rates varied with depth. In January 1997 and November 1999, maximum P. gelidicola ingestion rates of 6.95 and 0.79 FLP·cell -1·h-1, respectively, were measured at the chemocline (6-8 m) where a deep chl maximum composed of phototrophic nanoflagellates (PNAN DCM), predominantly P. gelidicola, persisted all year. During the summers of 1997 and 1999, the grazing P. gelidicola community removed between 0.4% and approximately 16% of in situ bacterial biomass, equivalent to between 4% and >100% of in situ bacterial production. Because of their higher abundance, the community clearance rates of HNAN in Ace Lake generally exceeded those of P. gelidicola, but HNAN removed approximately only 3%-4% of bacterial biomass, equivalent to between 28% and 32% of bacterial production. Pyramimonas gelidicola growth rates were highest at the PNAN DCM concomitant with the highest ingestion rates. It is estimated that during the summer P. gelidicola can derive up to 30% of their daily carbon requirements from bacterivory at the PNAN DCM. This study confirms mixotrophy as an important strategy by which planktonic organisms can survive in extreme, polar, lacustrine ecosystems.

History

Publication title

Journal of Phycology

Volume

39

Issue

4

Pagination

644-649

ISSN

0022-3646

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing, Inc.

Place of publication

United States

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Biodiversity in Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments

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