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Zooplankton-mediated changes of bacterial community structure.

K Jürgens¹, H Arndt, K O Rothhaupt

¹Max-Planck-Institute of Limnology, D-24302, Plön, Germany.

Microbial Ecology

|November 6, 2013

Summary

Metazooplankton predation significantly alters bacterial communities. Changes in zooplankton (Daphnia, copepods) impact protozoan predators, which in turn regulate bacterial density and morphology.

Area of Science:

Aquatic ecology
Microbial ecology
Food web dynamics

Background:

The microbial food web is crucial for aquatic ecosystem functioning.
Metazooplankton play a significant role in regulating microbial communities.
Protozoans are key intermediaries in the trophic transfer from bacteria to larger zooplankton.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of different metazooplankton compositions on bacterioplankton.
To understand the role of protozoans in mediating these effects.
To determine how zooplankton predation shapes bacterial community structure and biomass.

Main Methods:

Enclosure experiments were conducted in mesotrophic lake mesocosms (500-liter).
Metazooplankton communities were manipulated to create dominance of Daphnia, copepods, or absence of metazooplankton.

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Bacterial community structure, biomass, and productivity were analyzed in response to treatments.

Main Results:

Bacterial communities rapidly responded to altered zooplankton composition.
Daphnia dominance suppressed protozoans, maintaining small bacterial forms.
Copepod dominance or absence of metazooplankton led to increased bacterivorous protists, reducing bacterial abundance and favoring filamentous forms.

Conclusions:

Metazooplankton predation on phagotrophic protozoans is a critical factor regulating bacterioplankton density.
Zooplankton composition directly influences the structure and biomass of bacterial communities via protozoan grazing.
The microbial food web structure is highly sensitive to top-down control by metazooplankton.