Ref ID : 819
Manfred Schluter, Joost Groeneweg, and Carl J. Soeder; Impact of rotifer grazing on population dynamics of green microalgae in high-rate ponds. Water Research 21(10):1293-1297, 1987
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In high-rate algal ponds, the grazing activity of rotifers such as Brachionus rubens or B. calyciflorus often leads to a replacement of Senedesmus species by Micractinium pusillum. In contrast to many other green microalgae including Senedesmus, Micractinium pusillum with fully developed spines (setae) cannot be eaten by Brachionus. Ecological conditions for population shifts between Senedesmus and Micractinium are, therefore, interpreted as a response of the rotifers rather than being due to physiological properties of the algae. Another effect of rotifer grazing on the microbial flora of high-rate ponds in the development of large stable flocs consisting of bacteria and microalgae.