Open AccessAbundance and productivity of protozoa in chalk streams
Author(s) -
Baldock B. M.,
Baker J. H.,
Sleigh M. A.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1983.tb01087.x
Subject(s) - protozoa , abundance (ecology) , habitat , ecology , productivity , streams , biology , invertebrate , macrophyte , environmental science , botany , computer network , computer science , economics , macroeconomics
The distribution and abundance of protozoa in two chalk streams were studied. Particular attention was given to the ciliates and amoebae associated with the dominant submerged macrophyte, Ranunculus penicillatus . Highest numbers of protozoa occurred in habitats in the stream where the current velocity was reduced. Mean standing crops of ciliates, flagellates and amoebae were 32.5, 2.9 and 2.0 mg dry wt m −2 of stream bed respectively. Estimates of production and respiration rates by field populations of ciliates and amoebae were made for one type of habitat within the streams. The results are compared with published data on the productivity of protozoa in other habitats and of other invertebrates within the chalk stream ecosystem. The limitations of such productivity estimates are discussed.