Sporadic high abundances of naked amoebae in Black Sea plankton

Abstract

The abundance of non-testate ('naked'), free-living amoebae was examined in surface waters of the Black Sea during 5 cruises in 1992 and 1993. Amoebae (520 pm in size) were observed in samples collected during 2 of the 5 cruises at abundances up to approximately 380 ml-l The abundance and biomass of amoebae were low relative to other nanoplanktonic protozoa when averaged over all stations, but amoebae occasionally constituted a major component of the heterotrophic nanoplanktonic assemblage (up to 16% of abundance and 93% of biomass of the protozoa 2 to 20 pm in size). Abundances of amoebae correlated weakly with the total number of heterotrophic nanoplankton, and with ash free dry weight, but not with several other physical, chemical and biological parameters. Based on the highest abundances of naked amoebae observed in this study we suggest that these protozoa can occasionally be important in energy and elemental cycling in Black Sea plankton.

Strong effects of amoebae grazing on the biomass and genetic structure of a Microcystis bloom (Cyanobacteria)

“…Arndt, 1993; Mathes and Arndt, 1995; Weisse and Müller, 1998), generally in association with suspended particles (Rogerson and Gwaltney, 2000; Rogerson et al ., 2003). In Westveld Pond, the maximal observed population densities of amoebae were much higher than previously reported from any plankton community (Murzov and Caron, 1996; Anderson, 1997; Rogerson and Gwaltney, 2000; Anderson, 2007). In both sampling years, the pronounced, but very short‐lived, peak in the abundance of Microcystis ‐grazing amoebae, coincided with dramatic decreases in Microcystis biomass, which demonstrates that herbivorous amoebae can have a strong impact on the biomass of natural phytoplankton populations.…”

Benthic–pelagic coupling: a comparison of the community structure of benthic and planktonic heterotrophic protists in shallow inlets of the southern Baltic

“…Therefore, a close coupling between pelagic and benthic rhizopod communities may be a general feature of coastal waters. This notion is further supported by an increased abundance of pelagic rhizopods in the vicinity of shallow shelf areas of the Black Sea, that was attributed to sediment resuspension ( Murzov & Caron, 1996). Pelagic ciliate communities were generally comprised of different taxa than those in the benthos.…”

Trophic coupling of a testate amoeba and Microcystis species in a hypertrophic pond

“…Most rhizopods are generally considered to associate with suspended particles or other substrates to feed on their prey (Rogerson and Laybourn-Parry 1992;Anderson and Rogerson 1995;Murzov and Caron 1996). Considering their feeding manner, it seems that Penardochlamys sp.…”