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AME 33:303-308 (2003)
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Abstract
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Grazing of two euplotid ciliates on the heterotrophic dinoflagellates Pfiesteria piscicida and Cryptoperidiniopsis sp.
Scott G. Gransden1, Alan J. Lewitus1,2,*
1Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Science, University of South Carolina, PO Box 1630, Georgetown, South Carolina 29442, USA
2Marine Resources Research Institute, SC Department of Natural Resources, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, USA
*Corresponding author. Email: lewitusa@mrd.dnr.state.sc.us
ABSTRACT: Pfiesteria piscicida and Cryptoperidiniopsis spp. are common co-occurring heterotrophic dinoflagellates in estuaries along the Atlantic coast of the United States. We isolated P. piscicida, Cryptoperidiniopsis sp.,
and 2 benthic ciliates (Euplotes vannus and E. woodruffi) from North Inlet estuary, South Carolina, and examined the growth and grazing properties of the ciliates on cultures of the dinoflagellates maintained with cryptophyte (Storeatula
major) prey. Ciliate growth and grazing parameters on cryptophyte monocultures and mixed diets of cryptophytes and P. piscicida were significantly higher with E. woodruffi than E. vannus. Also, the net grazing impact of E.
woodruffi on P. piscicida prey was higher than the impact on Cryptoperidiniopsis sp., while the E. vannus grazing effect did not differ with dinoflagellate prey. The results indicate the potential for effective predatory control
by euplotid ciliates on nontoxic P. piscicida and Cryptoperidiniopsis sp. under defined laboratory conditions.
KEY WORDS: Benthic ciliates · Cryptoperidiniopsis · Euplotes · Heterotrophic dinoflagellates · Microzooplankton grazing · Pfiesteria
Full text in pdf format
Published in AME Vol.
33, No. 3
(2003) on November 7
Print ISSN: 0948-3055; Online ISSN: 1616-1564.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003
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