Total Nanoplankton Research Articles

Auto- and heterotrophic nanoplankton and filamentous bacteria of Guanabara Bay (RJ, Brazil): estimates of cell/filament numbers versus carbon content

Variations of nanoplankton (2-20 µm) and filamentous bacteria (diameter: 0.5-2.0 µm) of Guanabara Bay (RJ, Brazil) are presented, considering cell density and carbon content of auto- and heterotrophs. Our goal is to contribute to future modeling of local trophic dynamics. Subsurface water samples were taken weekly during the year 2000 at two sites: Urca (close to the entrance, more saline, eutrophic) and Ramos (inner area, less saline, hypertrophic). Microscopic analysis was done by epifluorescence and cell density was converted to biomass through cell biovolume. Total nanoplankton was about 10(8) cells.l-1 in most samples (>57%), and total filamentous bacteria densities varied from 10(5) to 10(8) fil.l-1. Autotroph density was one order of magnitude higher at Ramos, both for nanoplankton (Md: 10(8)cells.l-1 at Ramos and 10(7)cells.l-1 at Urca) and for filamentous bacteria (Md: 10(6) fil.l-1 at Ramos and 10(5) fil.l-1 at Urca). The same was observed for autotrophic biomass (Md: 10³µgC.l-1 at Ramos and 10¹µgC.l-1 at Urca for nanoplankton; Md: 28µgC.l-1 at Ramos and 1.4µgC.l-1 at Urca for filamentous bacteria). The relative contribution of autotrophs increased after conversion to biomass. Seasonal variation was conspicuous for filamentous bacteria at both sites and for nanoplankton only at Ramos, with maximum autotrophic abundances during the rainy period (spring-summer).

Small nanoplankton and bacteria in the Western Ross Sea during sea-ice retreat (spring 1994)

Spatial changes of small nanoplankton (2–10 μm) were investigated in relation to sea-ice conditions, hydrography and receding ice processes in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) during spring 1994. Abundance and biomass of heterotrophic and autotrophic nanoplankton, as well as bacterioplankton, were determined along a south-north transect from the open waters polynya towards the pack ice. Autotrophic and heterotrophic nanoplankton biomass ranged from 758 to 4570 mgC m−2 and from 3 to 387 mgC m−2, respectively. Heterotrophic nanoplankton accounted, on average, for about 9% of the total (i.e. autotrophic plus heterotrophic) nanoplankton biomass. The size structure of both auto- and heterotrophic nanoplankton in the Ross Sea continental shelf receding ice edge was different from that of nanoplankton associated with the shelf break and open Antarctic ice-edge area. Generally, the highest heterotrophic biomass was found in the pack-ice zone on the continental shelf, while the highest heterotrophic contribution to the total nanoplankton biomass (up to 25%) was encountered at the shelf break where phytoplankton was largely dominated by 2- to 3-μm-size cells.

The ecology of Paraphysomonas imperforata based on studies employing oligonucleotide probe identification in coastal water samples and enrichment cultures

The geographical distribution and seasonal abundance of the cosmopolitan heterotrophic flagellate Paraphysomonas imperforata in several coastal waters was examined using species‐specific oligonucleotide hybridization probes which target small subunit ribosomal RNA. P. imperforata was found to occur in several coastal environments, but at very low abundances (typically <50 cells ml−1). The seasonal abundance of P. imperforata examined at one sampling site remained consistently low and constituted no more than 1% of the total nanoplankton at any time during a 17‐month sampling period. In contrast to the low abundances observed in natural water samples, P. imperforata frequently dominated heterotrophic enrichment cultures prepared from these same samples, comprising up to 98% of the total nanoplankton. Based on these findings, we conclude that P. imperforata is an opportunistic species capable of growing rapidly to high abundances when prey concentrations are high. Water and enrichment temperature as well as the temperature tolerance range of P. imperforata appear to have played a role in the seasonal differences observed in P. imperforata dominance. Experiments with enrichment cultures indicated that the absolute abundances of P. imperforata in the water samples and the activity of consumers of nanoplankton also influenced the degree to which P. imperforata dominated the heterotrophic nanoplankton assemblages of enrichment cultures. Seasonal changes in water temperature might also affect these latter factors, and, as a consequence, indirectly influence the ability of P. imperforata populations to dominate enrichments. Our results support the notion that enrichment cultivation of heterotrophic flagellates, and perhaps incubations in general, can select for species such as P. imperforata that may not be representative of nanoplanktonic protists that numerically dominate natural assemblages.

Drinking water treatment options for taste and odor control

The effectiveness of drinking water treatment options for eliminating seasonal taste and odor events caused by phytoplankton blooms in the source water were evaluated. Dissolved air flotation (DAF), conventional gravity sedimentation (CGS), ozonation and granulated activated carbon (GAC) filtration processes were studied in pilot plant-scale experiments. Clarification by DAF consistently produced water with lower turbidity and particle counts (NP > 2.0 μm/ml) than CGS. Mean particle counts detected in water following DAF and CGS treatment were 3600 and 7500 particles/ml, respectively. The absolute abundance of phytoplankton in the source water was the single most important factor influencing DAF and CGS removal efficiency. Removal efficiencies for both processes were poorer at low source water biomass (near 250 μg/l) than at higher biomass concentrations (1750 μg/l). For the eight phytoplankton taxa present in the source water, DAF and CGS removal ranged from 29–85% and 21–49%, respectively. With the exception of the total nanoplankton for which removal by both processes was comparable, all other taxa were removed more efficiently by DAF than CGS. Flavor profile analysis (FPA) indicated that DAF alone could not completely mitigate the strong fishy, musty odors associated with some phytoplankton blooms. Ozone altered the fishy odor to an undesirable “plastic-like” odor. Only filtration through GAC/sand filters removed all odors. Removal of soluble constituents such as color and total organic carbon (TOC) by DAF and CGS were comparable for most of the year. During phytoplankton blooms, however, TOC removal by DAF was significantly greater than by CGS. TOC and color removal were substantially greater through GAC than through anthracite filters. A combination of DAF clarification and GAC filtration was the most effective treatment combination for removal of particulates, color and taste and odor compounds.

Development and field application of a quantitative method for examining natural assemblages of protists with oligonucleotide probes

A fluorescent in situ hybridization method that uses rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes for counting protists in cultures and environmental water samples is described. Filtration, hybridization, and enumeration of fixed cells with biotinylated eukaryote-specific probes and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated avidin were performed directly on 0.4-microns-pore-size polycarbonate filters of Transwell cell culture inserts (Costar Corp., Cambridge, Mass.). Counts of various species of cultured protists by this probe hybridization method were not significantly different from counts obtained by the 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and acridine orange (AO) staining methods. However, counts of total nanoplankton (TNAN) based on probe hybridizations in several field samples and in samples collected from a mesocosm experiment were frequently higher than TNAN counts obtained by staining with DAPI or AO. On the basis of these results, 25 to 70% of the TNAN determined with probes were not detectable by DAPI or AO staining. The underestimation of TNAN abundances in samples stained with DAPI or AO was attributed to the existence of small nanoplanktonic cells which could be detected with probes but not DAPI or AO and the difficulty associated with distinguishing DAPI- or AO-stained protists attached to or embedded in aggregates. We conclude from samples examined in this study that enumeration of TNAN with oligonucleotide probes provides estimates of natural TNAN abundances that are at least as high as (and in some cases higher than) counts obtained with commonly employed fluorochrome stains. The quantitative in situ hybridization method we have described here enables the direct enumeration of free-living protists in water samples with oligonucleotide probes. When combined with species-specific probes, this method will enable quantitative studies of the abundance and distribution of specific protistan taxa.

Trophic coupling within the microbial food web: a study with fine temporal resolution in a eutrophic freshwater ecosystem

SUMMARY The major components of the microbial food web (dissolved organic carbon, bacteria, protozoa, rotifers and algae) of Priest Pot, a small freshwater pond, were investigated over a period of 5 months. Water samples were collected from the epilimnion every 1–3 days. Time series analysis helped identify the trophic relationships within the planktonic community. There were strong predator—prey relationships between both ciliates and large rotifers and the total nanoplankton, between rotifers and small ciliates and between the total microzooplankton community and phytoplankton. Small rotifers and small ciliates probably share the same food resources. The major bacterivores in the system could not be identified with our methods. However, our previous results point to a dominating role of nanoplanktonic (2–20 μm) heterotrophic protists as the main grazers of bacteria. Rotifers are the major type of metazoan zooplankton in Priest Pot; crustacean zooplankton are absent from the community. Bacterial production probably reaches rotifers via a variety of pathways: there may be a three‐step link from bacteria to bacterivorous nanoplankton, to ciliates and then to rotifers. Furthermore, a strong correlation between the nanoplankton and rotifers suggests a direct link between these components, implying a much shorter pathway. Some of the rotifers in the pond can graze directly on bacteria, and many of the larger planktonic organisms (large ciliates and rotifers) are algivores. The latter two predator—prey relationships suggest an efficient transfer of bacterial and primary production to higher trophic levels.

Abundances of autotrophic and heterotrophic nanoplankton and the size distribution of microbial biomass in the southwestern North Sea in October 1986

Nanoplankton numbers ranged from 0.9 to 5.0 × 10 3 cells · ml −1 in coastal waters off the east coast of England in October 1986. On average, 80% of nanoplankton ranged in size from 2 to 4 μm equivalent spherical diameter (ESD). Autotrophic nanoplankton accounted for 20–80% (mean of 55%) of total nanoplankton. The nanoplankton were dominated by unidentified, small autotrophic and heterotrophic flagellates and monads which accounted for ≈ 84% of nanoplankton numbers. Identified groups included diatoms (6% of total nanoplankton numbers), cryptomonads (8% of nanoplankton numbers), dinoflagellates (2% of nanoplankton numbers), and choanoflagellates (0.6% of nanoplankton numbers). About equal biovolumes and biomasses of organisms were found in nanoplankton (2–20-μm ESD) and microplankton (20–200-μm ESD) size classes.

Population dynamics and trophic coupling in pelagic microorganisms in eutrophic coastal waters

Pelagic bacteria, heterotrophic and autotrophic nanoflagellates, and ciliates were quantified in the marine shallow-water sound, Limfjorden, Denmark, from March to November 1983. During summer the populations showed pronounced oscillations with time scales of days or weeks. Concentrations of bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellates and ciliates ranged from 0.5 to 15.2 X 106 ml (mean: 6.3), 0.2 to 15.2 X 103 ml-' (mean: 2.0), and 1.4 to 162.0 ml-' (mean: 17.1), respectively. Population sizes of bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates were coupled, as were populations of total nanoplankton and ciliates; in contrast there was no direct coupling between bacteria and ciliates. It is estimated that heterotrophic nanoflagellates on average cleared 45 YO (range: 5 to 365 %) of the watercolumn for bactena per day during summer. Ciliates on average cleared 93 % (range: 4 to 352 % ) of the water-column for nanoplankton per day.