Effects of resource supplements on mature ciliate biofilms: an empirical test using a new type of flow cell.
Biofouling
; 25(8): 769-78, 2009 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20183135
ABSTRACT
Biofilm-dwelling consumer communities play an important role in the matter flux of many aquatic ecosystems. Due to their poor accessibility, little is as yet known about the regulation of natural biofilms. Here, a new type of flow cell is presented which facilitates both experimental manipulation and live observation of natural, pre-grown biofilms. These flow cells were used to study the dynamics of mature ciliate biofilms in response to supplementation of planktonic bacteria. The results suggest that enhanced ciliate productivity could be quickly transferred to micrometazoans (ciliate grazers), making the effects on the standing stock of the ciliates detectable only for a short time. Likewise, no effect on ciliates appeared when micrometazoan consumers were ab initio abundant. This indicates the importance of 'top-down' control of natural ciliate biofilms. The flow cells used here offer great potential for experimentally testing such control mechanisms within naturally cultivated biofilms.
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Plancton
/
Bacterias
/
Cilióforos
/
Biopelículas
/
Eucariontes
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Año:
2009
Tipo del documento:
Article