Abstract
Euplotes sp., a hypotrich ciliate isolated from Lake Kaiike, feeds on Chromatium sp. (phototrophic bacterium) as an effective food source. On 24 October 1997, this predator and its prey reached a maximum abundance of 1.2×104 cells 1-1 at 5m depth and 1×106 cells ml-1 at 5.5m depth, respectively where H2S began to appear. In aerobic conditions, the ciliates grew rapidly by feeding on about 5, 000 bacterial cells for the cell division. A minimum level of bacterial cells for the ciliate population to sustain the biomass was estimated to be about 60 cells day-1 per single ciliate cell. In the presence of H2S, feeding activity of the ciliate on bacterial cells was completely suppressed. Dissolved H2S around the habitat of Chromatium sp. was considered to protect against feeding pressure by Euplotes sp.
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