Grazing rates of the freshwater ciliate Balanion planctonicum determined by flow cytometry

Abstract

Feeding of Balanion planctonicum on the eryptomonad Rhodomonas sp. was recorded in vivo at 2 3 min intervals by flow cytometry. Ingestion rates were 1.6-1.7 algal cells ciliate-1 h-1. On average, 20-30 min elapsed between ingestion and egestion.