The ecology of protozoa in chalk streams, with particular reference to ciliates and amoebae associated with selected macrophytes
The ecology of protozoa in chalk streams, with particular reference to ciliates and amoebae associated with selected macrophytes
This study of protozoa associated with river plants was carried out on three chalk streams in Dorset. The distribution of flagellates, ciliates and amoebae on the submerged macrophyte Ranunculus penioillatus var. oaloareus were studied. The greatest concentration of protozoa occurred in the leaf-nodes. Numbers of flagellates averaged 11,400 ml 1, ciliates 8,790 ml1 and amoebae 4,530 m171. The density of ciliates on leaf surfaces of R. penioillatus was correlated with current velocity. Numbers of bacteria in nodes (107 m171) and on leaf surfaces (106 cur) were estimated. Bacterial biomass was unlikely to be limiting growth of the protozoa. The effect of bacterial numbers om 2 on the settling behaviour of Vorticella convallaria was studied. This ciliate selected sites with a minimum of 106 bacteria cm2. Two common invertebrates, Lymnaea peregra and Baetie sp. caused a significant reduction in populations of V. convallaria by predation. Protozoa in other lotic habitats were also studied including the distribution of Peritrichida and Testacea on three other macrophytes. There was great variability in these data. Numbers of Peritrichida on three invertebrates were estimated and it appears that invertebrates surfaces are an important substratum for protozoa. Protozoa suspended in the water column and in fine sediment were enumerated. Flagellates were the commonest group in both habitats.Growth rates of seven species of Gymnamoebia were estimated at several temperatures. Growth in five species appeared to follow first order chemical kinetics. The respiration rates of two of these species averaged 5.01 x1074 p1 02 I f-1 individual 1. The total production by ciliates and amoebae in nodes of R.penicillatus was estimated to be 2.3 g dry wt. m 2 yr 1.
University of Southampton
1980
Baldock, Belinda M
(1980)
The ecology of protozoa in chalk streams, with particular reference to ciliates and amoebae associated with selected macrophytes.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
This study of protozoa associated with river plants was carried out on three chalk streams in Dorset. The distribution of flagellates, ciliates and amoebae on the submerged macrophyte Ranunculus penioillatus var. oaloareus were studied. The greatest concentration of protozoa occurred in the leaf-nodes. Numbers of flagellates averaged 11,400 ml 1, ciliates 8,790 ml1 and amoebae 4,530 m171. The density of ciliates on leaf surfaces of R. penioillatus was correlated with current velocity. Numbers of bacteria in nodes (107 m171) and on leaf surfaces (106 cur) were estimated. Bacterial biomass was unlikely to be limiting growth of the protozoa. The effect of bacterial numbers om 2 on the settling behaviour of Vorticella convallaria was studied. This ciliate selected sites with a minimum of 106 bacteria cm2. Two common invertebrates, Lymnaea peregra and Baetie sp. caused a significant reduction in populations of V. convallaria by predation. Protozoa in other lotic habitats were also studied including the distribution of Peritrichida and Testacea on three other macrophytes. There was great variability in these data. Numbers of Peritrichida on three invertebrates were estimated and it appears that invertebrates surfaces are an important substratum for protozoa. Protozoa suspended in the water column and in fine sediment were enumerated. Flagellates were the commonest group in both habitats.Growth rates of seven species of Gymnamoebia were estimated at several temperatures. Growth in five species appeared to follow first order chemical kinetics. The respiration rates of two of these species averaged 5.01 x1074 p1 02 I f-1 individual 1. The total production by ciliates and amoebae in nodes of R.penicillatus was estimated to be 2.3 g dry wt. m 2 yr 1.
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Published date: 1980
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Local EPrints ID: 462590
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/462590
PURE UUID: f8bb0a4f-fd87-4a80-ad37-31da351fe18f
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 19:28
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 19:28
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Author:
Belinda M Baldock
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