Distribution of heterotrophic nanoflagellates and their importance as the bacterial consumer in a eutrophic coastal seawater

Abstract

Seasonal and vertical changes in abundances of bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF), and HNF grazing on bacteria were investigated in a small eutrophic inlet of Uranouchi-Wan throughout the years. Bacterial densities in the surface water ranged from 1.2 to 11 (average 4.3)×10⁶ cells ml⁻¹ with a couple of maxima following the algal blooming. Densities of HNF ranged from 0.54 to 73 (average 16.4)×10³ cells ml⁻¹ in the surface, and showed almost similar fluctuation pattern to that of bacteria with a time lag of about 1 to 2 weeks. Grazing rates of HNF on bacteria obtained by FLB method were 4.78 to 16.9 (average 10.3±SD 4.8) cells HNF⁻¹h⁻¹ in the surface layer in summer, and consequent total bacterial consumption rates by HNF fluctuated from 4 to 99×10⁴ cells ml⁻¹h⁻¹. In deeper layers, however, as HNF densities and grazing rates on bacteria were low, the grazing pressure of HNF on bacteria was small. Turnover times of bacteria by HNF grazing in the surface layer were calculated as relatively constant values of 40 to 60 h, however, it decreased to as low as 6 to 7 h when the HNF activity was highest. These results indicate that bacteria grew so actively by consuming organic matter in seawater as to compensate high HNF grazing pressure, and that bacteria and HNF in the microbial loop play important roles on the turnover of substrates in coastal ecosystems.