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Community production and respiration by ciliated protozoa in the benthos of a small eutrophic loch
Author(s) -
FINLAY BLAND J.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1978.tb01454.x
Subject(s) - ciliate , benthos , benthic zone , eutrophication , environmental science , ecology , biology , annual cycle , zoology , nutrient
SUMMARY. The results of laboratory experiments on ciliate reproductive and respiratory rates have been combined with field data for ciliate numbers, to produce estimates of production and respiratory energy losses by communities of benthic ciliates. Annual production decreased with increasing depth, and it was estimated to be 345, 149 and 40 J cm −2 year −1 at three sites in Airthrey Loch, Scotland. A similar trend with increasing depth was recorded for annual respiratory energy losses, being 16, 11 and 4 J cm −2 year −1 at the three sites. The corresponding annual net production efficiencies (%) were 95.2, 93.1 and 91.5. When net production efficiencies were calculated for each period (the time between successive sampling occasions) as 100 (daily production/daily assimilation), the range extended from 63 to 98. The energetic efficiencies of the ciliate populations are discussed with reference to data in the literature for higher organisms.