Active flagellates grazing on prokaryotes in high salinity waters of a solar saltern

Jong S. Park, Heejung Kim, Dong H. Choi, Byung C. Cho

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36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) are known to be active grazers of prokaryotes and frequently major agents of prokaryotic mortality in various marine environments. However, studies on HNF occurrences and activities in high salinity (> 300‰) waters have shown contradictory results. Further, measurements of active HNF grazing on prokaryotes have not been reported in high salinity waters. Interestingly, in high salinity waters of a solar saltern located on the west coast of Korea, the flagellate grazing rates determined by uptake of fluorescently labeled prokaryotes (FLP) ranged from 1.4 to 13.0 x 108 cells l-1 h-1, turning over prokaryotes in 9 to 48 d. The occurrences of active grazing in high salinity waters were further independently confirmed through an FLP disappearance approach. Prokaryotes in high salinity waters seemed to be strongly controlled by flagellates grazing in summer in the saltern. Naturally, high occurrences of flagellates (7 to 28 x 106 HNF l-1) were observed in high salinity waters. The flagellates were 5 to 12 μm in length, devoid of autofluorescence and actively ingested prokaryotes. In cultures maintained in the dark for 4 mo after field samples were diluted to contain a single HNF per culture tube, active flagellate growth continued to be observed. It seems that heterotrophic and extremely halophilic eukaryotic grazers actively ingest prokaryotes in high salinity waters.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-179
Number of pages7
JournalAquatic Microbial Ecology
Volume33
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 14 Oct 2003

Keywords

  • Crystallizer
  • Grazing
  • Heterotrophic nanoflagellate
  • High salinity waters
  • Solar saltern

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