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Water column anoxia: vertical zonation of planktonic protozoa
Fenchel, T.; Kristensen, L.D.; Rasmussen, L. (1990). Water column anoxia: vertical zonation of planktonic protozoa. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 62: 1-10
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. Inter-Research: Oldendorf/Luhe. ISSN 0171-8630; e-ISSN 1616-1599, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Aquatic communities > Plankton > Zooplankton
    Biological production > Secondary production
    Chemical compounds > Organic compounds > Hydrocarbons > Saturated hydrocarbons > Acyclic hydrocarbons > Methane
    Distribution > Geographical distribution > Vertical distribution
    Environmental effects > Salinity effects
    Eutrophic waters
    Profiles > Vertical profiles > Oxygen profiles
    Sulphides
    Cyclidium O.F. Müller, 1773 [WoRMS]; Flagellates [WoRMS]; Pleuronema Dujardin, 1841 [WoRMS]
    ANE, Denmark [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Fenchel, T., more
  • Kristensen, L.D.
  • Rasmussen, L.

Abstract
    The vertical zonation of planktonic protozoa was studied in 2 Danish eutrophic fjords at localities with an anoxic layer of bottom-water. Three distinct assemblages of protozoa are found. The fully oxygenated surface waters harbour a typical ciliate-plankton assemblage dominated by tintinnids and other oligotrichs in addition to various gymnostome ciliates. Heterotrophic flagellates totally dominate as bacterivores. In the oxycline a quite different group of ciliates occur; it is dominated by bacterivorous scuticociliates. Beneath the oxycline, in strictly anoxic and sulphide containing water, an assemblage of specialised anaerobic ciliates occurs. The high bacterial productivity in the oxycline is reflected by a biomass maximum of ciliates and to a lesser degree of heterotrophic flagellates. In anoxic microbial communities the biomass ratio between phagotrophs and their prey is much lower than in aerobic communities due to the low net growth efficiency of anaerobic eukaryotes.

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