Size-differential control of phytoplankton and the structure of plankton communities

摘要: We provide evidence and discuss the possibility that main factors determining food web structure in oligotrophic eutrophic marine environments are: 1. -1. Small algae are better competitors for light nutrients than larger algae. 2. -2. The potentially high reproduction rate of their predators makes smaller more susceptible to grazing control by microzooplankton algae. 3. -3. Larger escape from grazing, due size, but experience losses through sedimentation. 4. -4. Microzooplankton is an important source mesozooplankton areas. Basically, maintenance system (also known as retention or regenerative system), which consists pico- nano-algae, microzooplankton, carnivorous bacteria heterotrophic nanoflagellates act decomposers mineralisers, typical consuming most fixed energy within photic zone. overflow response, being extension with micro- macro-algae herbi-/omnivorous copepods, shows extended export out zone sedimentation. present all environments, whether light- and/or nutrient-controlled, well-mixed stratified, eutrophic. Typical response observed during upward shift import controlling factor, either nutrients. In agreement hypothesis size-differential it was found light-controlled phytoplankton consisted mainly small flagellates (<8 μm) winter central North Sea. The dominance large diatoms early spring bloom Marsdiep area (The Netherlands) not necessarily caused growth characteristics, size-selective grazing.