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American Zoologist 1973 13(1):215-223; doi:10.1093/icb/13.1.215
© 1973 by The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
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Trophic Dynamics and Niches of Salt Marsh Foraminifera

JOHN J. LEE and WILLIAM A. MULLER
Department of Biology, City College of City University of New York Convent Avenue and 138th Street, New York, New York 10039

Energetic considerations of the growth of three species of littoral benthic foraminifera, Allogromia laticollaris, Rosalina leei, and Spiroloculina hyalina, have been made on laboratory-grown populations. Under optimum laboratory conditions A. laticollaris has the greatest intrinsic rate of increase (r = 2.533 org/day); S. hyalina (r = 1.472 org/day), and R. leei (r = 0.272 org/day) being less fecund. The respiration rates of the three species were similar (0.5–4.5 µ1/mg body wt/hr) within the temperature range (15–35 C) tested. The species studied are selective feeders. Only 4-5 of 28 species of algae tested were consumed in significant quantities (40-150 x 108 g/foram/day). Although great numbers of bacteria were eaten, their biomass was negligible when compared to the algae. The ecological growth efficiency (Ee) of the three species tested is highest in fresh cultures (5-20%) and declines rapidly. Evidence suggests that the species studied are well adapted for the rapid changes in the microbial community structure which take place throughout the summer, and that community stability and high rate of productivity are achieved through diversity.


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