Colonisation and succession of marine biofilm-dwelling ciliates in response to environmental variation

Aquatic Microbial Ecology

Liliana Zalizniak¹  Andrew J. Scardino¹  Matthew G. Watson¹  Jeff Shimeta¹ 

关键词: Ciliates;    Functional group;    Marine microbial ecology;    Marine organisms;    Microbial assemblage structure;   

DOI  :  10.3354/ame01731

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Protozoan assemblages and successional dynamics are important components of biofouling that require better understanding. We studied marine ciliates in temperate Australia as they colonised artificial substrates for 21 d during 2 different seasons, with 2 different aspects of orientation. Sessile and planktonic taxa established within 7 d, whereas vagile taxa colonised throughout the period. Abundances reached 366 ciliates cm^-2. Colonies of the peritrichs Zoothamnium and Vorticella, and the hypotrichs Aspidisca and Euplotes were the most abundant. The north aspect received more light than the south aspect during summer, but assemblages did not differ significantly. Assemblage structure was different between seasons, and it developed more quickly and reached greater abundances during summer. A storm late in summer abruptly reduced abundances and affected functional groups differently, but diversity was largely unaffected. Thus, diversity of an established assemblage can be maintained through disturbances, despite abundances being subject to great fluctuation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown