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Freshwater Microbial Ecology

Freshwater Microbial Ecology

Freshwater systems such as streams, rivers, and lakes exhibit distinct physical and biological characteristics that influence their microbial communities. These environments are broadly categorized into lotic systems—those with flowing waters like streams and most rivers—and lentic systems, which include still or slow-moving waters such as lakes, ponds, and marshes.In lentic systems, phytoplankton drive primary production, generating autochthonous organic carbon. In contrast, lotic systems...

Microbial Interactions: Predation

Microbial Interactions: Predation

Microbial predation refers to the process by which one microorganism kills and consumes another to obtain nutrients and energy. It encompasses both bacterial and protozoan predators. This interaction plays a crucial role in shaping microbial communities and regulating nutrient cycling.Bacterial Predators: Epibiotic vs. EndobioticBacterial predators are classified based on their mode of attack as either epibiotic or endobiotic. Epibiotic predators, such as Vampirococcus, attach to the surface of...

Bioremediation

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.

Marine Microbial Ecology

Marine Microbial Ecology

Marine microbial ecosystems are shaped by distinct physicochemical limits, including high salinity, low nutrient availability, and fluctuating oxygen levels. These conditions favor smaller microbial cell sizes, which maximize their surface-to-volume ratio for efficient nutrient uptake.Microbial activity and community composition are closely linked to biogeochemical cycles, particularly in dynamic environments like estuaries, where halotolerant microbes thrive in response to variable salinity...

Primary Production

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The total amount of energy acquired by primary producers in an ecosystem is called gross primary production (GPP). However, of this energy, producers use some for metabolic processes, and some is lost as heat, decreasing the amount of energy available to the next trophic level. The remaining usable amount of energy is called the net primary productivity (NPP). In terrestrial ecosystems, NPP is driven by climate, while light penetration and nutrient availability drive NPP in aquatic ecosystems.

Trophic Efficiency

Trophic Efficiency

Trophic level transfer efficiency (TLTE) is a measure of the total energy transfer from one trophic level to the next. Due to extensive energy loss as metabolic heat, an average of only 10% of the original energy obtained is passed on to the next level. This pattern of energy loss severely limits the possible number of trophic levels in a food chain.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff

Published on: May 15, 2017

Predator-driven nutrient recycling in California stream ecosystems.

Robin G Munshaw¹, Wendy J Palen, Danielle M Courcelles

¹Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. rgm1@sfu.ca

|March 23, 2013

Summary

Coastal giant salamanders and steelhead trout play key roles in stream nutrient recycling. While salamanders have higher biomass, trout recycle more nitrogen and phosphorus, potentially easing nutrient limitation when their biomass increases.

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Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems

Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems

Published on: October 29, 2016

Area of Science:

Ecology
Aquatic ecosystems
Nutrient cycling

Background:

Consumer nutrient recycling significantly impacts stream ecosystem nutrient availability and primary producer communities.
Stream fish are recognized for their nutrient recycling contributions, yet the roles of other vertebrates, like amphibians, are less understood.
Coastal giant salamanders (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are top aquatic predators in Pacific Northwest tributary streams.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify and compare nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) recycling rates of coastal giant salamanders and steelhead trout in a California tributary stream.
To assess the relative contributions of these two vertebrate species to overall stream nutrient dynamics.
To explore how shifts in the relative biomass of these species might influence nutrient limitation in forested stream ecosystems.

Main Methods:

Field surveys to determine the density and body size distributions of D. tenebrosus and O. mykiss.
Direct field measurements of mass-specific ammonium (N) and total dissolved phosphorus (P) excretion rates for D. tenebrosus.
Bioenergetic modeling using diet nutrient composition data to estimate N and P excretion rates for O. mykiss.

Main Results:

Despite lower abundance, D. tenebrosus exhibited 2.5 times greater biomass than O. mykiss.
O. mykiss recycled 1.7 times more N and 1.2 times more P per stream length than D. tenebrosus.
O. mykiss had a higher N:P excretion ratio (8.7) compared to D. tenebrosus (6.0) and the combined species (7.5).

Conclusions:

Shifts in vertebrate biomass, favoring fish over salamanders, could alleviate nutrient limitation in forested tributary streams.
Variations in the relative abundance of these vertebrates and nutrient uptake rates across river networks can influence large-scale nutrient limitation patterns.
Understanding the distinct nutrient recycling roles of different vertebrate taxa is crucial for effective stream ecosystem management.