New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Laboratory studies on zooplankton-cyanobacteria interactions

WINFRIED LAMPERT

Department of Physiological Ecology Max Planck Institute of Limnology Plon, Federal Republic of Germany

Abstract Laboratory studies on cyanobacteria-zooplankton interactions have largely focused on the inadequacy of cyanobacteria as a food source. Some features of cyanobacteria can be regarded as anti-herbivore defences. Large colonies of Aphan-izomenon, Anabaena and Microcystis cannot be handled by zooplankton, but do not interfere seriously with the filtering process. Small colonies and filaments, however, may cause severe inhibition of the feeding process by mechanical interference. This reduces zooplankton growth, reproduction, and survival. Copepods, rotifers, and Bosmina are less affected by mechanical disturbance than cladocer-ans. If ingested, some cyanobacteria may be poorly digested or may not provide essential nutrients. Some cyanobacteria are reported to be toxic to zooplankton. Several strains of Microcystis produce an endotoxin, but the amount of toxin produced differs among strains and with the condition of Microcystis. Zooplankton encountering toxic cells cease feeding. Some evidence of an extra-cellular herbivore deterrent was found for Anabaena. Thus, cyanobacteria may either be individually protected or may create an environment that is unfavourable for efficient grazers (e.g., Daphnia).

Keywords Anabaena; Aphanizomenon; blue-green algae; cladocera; copepods; cyanobacteria; Daphnia; filter feeding; grazing; herbivores; Microcystis; rotifers; zooplankton

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1987, Vol. 21: 483-490 0028-8330/87/2103-0483$2.50/0 © Crown copyright 1987 Received 19 February 1987; accepted 7 May 1987

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (790K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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