Carbon budgets of the microbial food web in estuarine enclosures

Abstract

During 9 to 25 June 1987, carbon budgets were established for estuarine enclosures manipulated by additions of nutrients and suspension-feeding bivalves. In enclosures with added mussels, biomasses were lower for bacteria and microzooplankton, and mesozooplankton, but slightly higher for heterotrophic nanoflagellates. Bacteria, flagellates, and microzooplankton, mostly ciliates, dominated heterotrophic processes. Microzooplankton and flagellate clearances were higher in enclosures with added nutrients. The added mussels dominated heterotrophic consumption and controlled organisms > 20 mu m.