Diel changes in bacterial ingestion by a mixotrophic flagellate, Cryptomonas sp., and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) were examined in situ at 4-h intervals for 2 d in the epilimnion and metalimnion of Lake Biwa using bacteria-sized fluorescent microspheres as a tracer food. Clearance rates of HNF for the microspheres ranged between 1.3 and 4.5 nl cell Ϫ1 h Ϫ1 , but the average rate did not differ between day and night. In contrast, clear diel changes were observed in the clearance rate of Cryptomonas sp. in the epilimnion from Ͻ0.5 nl cell Ϫ1 h Ϫ1 at midnight to Ͼ3 nl cell Ϫ1 h Ϫ1 at noon. In the metalimnion where light intensity was lower, however, the clearance rate of Cryptomonas sp. was always Ͻ0.5 nl cell Ϫ1 h Ϫ1 through the study period. Thus, bacterial ingestion of Cryptomonas sp. is not to acquire supplementary energy or carbon at low phototrophic activities. During the study period, both inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were less than or close to the detection limits (10 nM P and 1 M N) in the epilimnion, but much higher in the metalimnion. The results strongly support the idea that Cryptomonas sp. utilizes N and P from bacteria as substitutable nutrients when photosynthesis takes place under conditions of nutrient depletion. To assess the grazing effect of mixotrophic algae on bacterial populations, it is essential to consider diel changes in their phagotrophic mode of nutrition that are induced by light regime and nutrient concentrations in ambient water.

> Abstract Dilution bioassays were performed to examine the seasonal and vertical difference in the relative importance of factors limiting growth of heterotrophic bacteria in Lake Biwa. The lake water diluted by 0.2 µm lake filtrate (1:6.6) was enriched either with glucose (C), inorganic phosphorus (P), ammonium nitrogen (N), amino acids (AA), or a combination of these, and incubated for 2 days at the depths where lake water was collected (2.5, 20 and 30 m depths). Experiments showed that at 2.5 m, P was the most deficient resource for bacterial growth, but the magnitude of P limitation depended on water temperature. Among others, amino acids showed a slight but significant stimulation of bacterial growth rates during the fall. At 20 and 30 m, however, growth stimulation by resource addition was rarely detected. Vertically reciprocal translocation experiments revealed that the growth rate was limited by low temperature rather than resource supply at the greater depths. The results support a simple view that bacterial growth rate is basically regulated by water temperature, but high growth rate is not realized in summer because of resource depletion. The present study suggests that both temperature and P supply play a crucial role in biogeochemical cycling of organic matter in Lake Biwa through the bacterial growth rate.http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00248/bibs/38n2p136.html

We estimated the contributions of sedimentation and cell lysis to the loss of two large phytoplankton species (Fragilaria crotonensis and Staurastrum dorsidentiferum) in Lake Biwa. Major loss process differed between species, and large phytoplankton did not necessarily function as a nutrient sink. The spring bloom of F. crotonensis was terminated by nutrient depletion and a subsequent increase in sedimentation rate. Although this species could be occasionally grazed by zooplankton, sedimentation eliminated nutrients from the surface. In contrast, the summer bloom of Staurastrum dorsidentiferum crashed mainly as a result of cell lysis caused by fungal infection within the surface mixing layer, which accounted for more than 75% of the mortality rate of this species. Cell lysis of S. dorsidentiferum may lead to nutrients within the surface mixing layer, supporting the production of bacteria and zooplankton. The different loss process of these two species implies that the function of phytoplankton in material flows cannot be assessed by cell size alone. Fungal parasitism can result in a different fate, which may play an important role in material cycling in lakes.

Culture experiments were conducted with the alga Scenedesmus acutus and heterotrophic bacteria to examine if the nature of their relationship changes according to the balance of light and nutrient supplies. Mixtures of algae and bacteria were grown in vanous combinations of 6 light intensities and 4 phosphorus (P) concentrations at high N:P ratio (80:l). We used an artificial medium composed of inorganic nutrients so that bacteria relied on organic matter released by algae as carbon (C) source. Every 2 d, 25 % of the culture suspension was replaced by fresh medium. At the end of incubation when both bacterial and algal densities were stabilized, bacteria were separated from algae. Bioassays with glucose and/or inorganic P enrichment were then performed to assess the extent to which bacterial growth rate was limited by organic C or inorganic P. The algal density in the semibatch culture was low under the light intensity 1 5 5 FE rn-'s-' regardless of P concentrations, while it was higher at higher light and P supply rate above that light intensity. The bacterial density was higher in the cultures where algal density was higher. The bioassay revealed that bacteria were C limited at the light intensity <55 pE m-2 S-', indicating a commensal relationship between algae and bacteria.Above that light intensity, bacteria suffered from deficiency of organic carbon rather than P at lowest P supply rate, because of low algal biomass due to a shortage in P supply. At moderate P supply rates and light intensities 255 PE m-2 S-', however, bacterial growth was limited by P rather than organic C, because supply of organic C from algae exceeded P supply relative to bacterial demand. Further increase in P supply released both algae and bacteria from P limitation. Thus, con~petitive interaction for P was most intense at a moderate P supply rate. These results demonstrate that there is a shift between comrnensalism for C and competition for P depending on light intensity and nutnent supply rate.

Macrozooplankton may affect algal and microbial plankton directly through grazing or predation and indirectly through nutrient regeneration. They may also affect potential prey positively by removing alternative predators. Here, we examined the effects of a cladoceran (Daphnia) and a calanoid copepod (Eodiaptomus) on algal and microbial plankton in a Japanese lake using in situ experiments in which we manipulated the nutrient supply and biomass of these macrozooplankton. The response of algal and microbial plankton to macrozooplankton was diverse and varied depending on the level of nutrient supply. Eodiaptomus seemed to feed mainly on large algae (>20 µm) and microzooplankton, while direct grazing by Daphnia on algae, bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF), and microzooplankton (ciliates, heliozoa, and rotifers) was pronounced. Trophic linkages within these microbial plankton was also suggested; bacteria were grazed by HNF and these in turn were grazed by microzooplankton. When the nutrient supply was high, both HNF and microzooplankton were exposed to higher amounts of algae and lower bacterial abundance. Moreover, nutrient regeneration by daphnids and Eodiaptomus copepods seemed to differentially stimulate the growth of algae and bacteria. The results suggest that the relationship between macrozooplankton and microbial plankton cannot be fully understood without taking into consideration not only the feeding characteristics of the macrozooplankton, but also the food web structure, the subsidized algal resource, and nutrient regeneration from the macrozooplankton.