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The Impact of a Stream‐Dwelling Harpacticoid Copepod Upon Detritally Associated Bacteria
Author(s) -
Perlmutter Daniel G.,
Meyer Judy L.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1941568
Subject(s) - copepod , biomass (ecology) , bacteria , biology , ecology , bacterial cell structure , crustacean , zoology , genetics
Natural densities of common stream—dwelling harpacticoid copepods, Attheyella spp., reduced the density and biomass and increased the area—specific and cell—specific production of detritally associated bacteria. Bacterial density was reduced by as much as 58% and rod—shaped bacteria were reduced as much as 27%. Attheyella selectively removed larger rod—shaped bacteria. This resulted in a significant change in the size—frequency distribution of rod—shaped bacteria and a decrease in median cell length by 17—30%. The removal of larger sized cells by Attheyella probably contributed to the observed reduction in bacterial biomass. With copepods present, bacterial biomass was reduced as much as 45%. Estimated rates of ingestion of bacterial carbon by copepods are comparable to values for marine harpacticoids. Bacterial biomass appears to be a more important food source to microdetritivores than to macrodetritivores in streams.