Spring microzooplankton composition, biomass and potential grazing in the central Cantabrian coast (southern Bay of Biscay)

摘要: Abstract Microzooplankton abundance, biomass and composition were investigated in the coastal waters of Asturias (southern Bay Biscay) May 1996. Abundance ranged from 0.7×10 3 to 8.5×10 cell·L −1 . The protists community was dominated by aloricate ciliates averaging 82 % microheterotrophs. Small ciliates, below 20 μm size, contributed 63 % total ciliate abundance. Carbon 2.4 15.4 mgC·m −3 , 23 % phytoplankton biomass. Aloricate also dominant component (56.2 %), but importance copepod nauplii increased terms carbon, 28.5 % significantly correlated with Chl a concentration water column. Theoretical estimates grazing impact microzooplankton on calculated resulted an average value 28.3 % standing stock potentially consumed per day. Choreotrich most important potential grazers study (13.7 % stock) followed metazoan (6.3 %). consistent large size primary producers during diatom spring blooms, like one found this study. validity theoretical impact, as well including larvae studies are discussed. © 2000 Ifremer/CNRS/IRD/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS / southern Biscay