The relative contribution of microfauna (bacteria and protozoa), and metazoa (meiofauna and macrofauna) to profundal benthic production in Lake Brunnsee was examined in a 1-y study. Abundance of micro-, meio-, and macrofauna was determined and converted to biomass. Annual production was calculated using the [3H]-thymidine incorporation method for bacteria and allometric equations for protozoa and metazoa. Bacteria had the highest biomass and production (1.5 g C/m2 and 27 g C m−2 y−1, respectively). Protozoa had the highest P/B ratio, with an average biomass of 0.1 g C/m2 and an annual production of 22 g C m−2 y−1. Meiobenthos and macrobenthos had biomasses of 0.1 and 1.2 g C/m2, respectively, and production estimates of 1.6 g m−2 y−1 and 3.1 to 6.7 g m−2 y−1, respectively, depending on the method used for calculation. Although protozoan biomass was small in Lake Brunnsee sediments, production estimates suggest that they may represent an important component of the benthic community.
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1 June 2005
Benthic production by micro-, meio-, and macrobenthos in the profundal zone of an oligotrophic lake
Matthias Bergtold,
Walter Traunspurger
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Journal of the North American Benthological Society
Vol. 24 • No. 2
June 2005
Vol. 24 • No. 2
June 2005