Predator and prey biodiversity relationship and its consequences on marine ecosystem functioning-interplay between nanoflagellates and bacterioplankton.

ABSTRACT: The importance of biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning across trophic levels, especially via predatory-prey interactions, is receiving increased recognition. However, this topic has rarely been explored for marine microbes, even though microbial biodiversity contributes significantly to marine ecosystem function and energy flows. Here we examined diversity and biomass of bacteria (prey) and nanoflagellates (predators), as well as their effects on trophic transfer efficiency in the East China Sea. Specifically, we investigated: (i) predator diversity effects on prey biomass and trophic transfer efficiency (using the biomass ratio of predator/prey as a proxy), (ii) prey diversity effects on predator biomass and trophic transfer efficiency, and (iii) the relationship between predator

SUBMITTER: Yang JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5956075 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature