Effect of organic phosphorus and nitrogen enrichment of mesotrophic lake water on dynamics and diversity of planktonic microbial communities - DNA and protein case studies [mesocosm experiments]

Effects of mesotrophic lake water enrichment with organic phosphorus and nitrogen substrates (DNA and model protein, bovine serum albumin - BSA) on dynamics and diversity of natural microbial communities (bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellates, ciliates) were studied in mesocosm experiments. Simultaneous enrichment with DNA and BSA strongly increased the abundance and biomass of all studied groups of microorganisms and induced changes in their morphological and taxonomic structure. The increased participation of large heterotrophic nanoflagellates cells (larger than 10 μm) in their total numbers and shifts in taxonomic and trophic Structure of the ciliates, from algivorous to small bacterivorous, species were observed. Grazing caused changes in bacterial size distribution in all enriched mesocosms. Large (10-50 μm) filamentous bacteria significantly contributed to the total bacterial numbers and biomass. Pronounced increase in populations of (β- and γ-Proteobacteria was found in lake water enriched with organic P and N sources, whereas α-Pmteobacteria did not change markedly in the studied mesocosms. DNA additions stimulated the rates of bacterial secondary production. BSA shortened the rates of bacterial biomass turnover in lake water. Relatively high and constant (~ 30%) percentage contribution of active bacteria (MEM+) in two mesocosms enriched with DNA and DNA+BSA suggested the important role of nucleic acids as a source of phosphorus for bacterial growth, activity and production. Numerous and statistically significant correlations between bacteria and protists indicated the direct and selective predator-prey relationship.