Predation by zooplankton and competition

with larger phytoplanktonic species were not considered in our size fractionated approach and should be taken into account, especially if long-term extrapolation of in situ responses of small eukaryotes is considered. Our data provide further illustration of Fludarabine chemical structure the need to consider the taxonomic and functional diversity of heterotrophic flagellates. The lack of discrimination between heterotrophic bacterivores and parasitic/saprotrophic zoospores within the non-pigmented flagellates can lead to misinterpretation of the functioning and responses of planktonic food webs. Indeed, while microscope observations did not allow us to detect changes in the abundance and structure of non-pigmented eukaryotes, a structuring impact of manipulated factors (especially temperature) was observed through sequencing

results on taxa affiliated to parasitic and saprotroph groups (particularly Syndiniales and Hyphochytrids). The existence of eukaryotic parasites among small-size plankton was recently re-discovered by molecular environmental surveys, and the ecological significance of these groups has been highlighted by several authors [57, 58]. The ‘Fungi-like’ Hyphochytrids possess many morphological and ecological similarities to chytrids [58, 59], and their role as saprotrophs and/or parasites is unclear

[60, 61], whereas the Amoebophrya are well recognized as a widely distributed Urocanase Selleckchem LY3039478 parasitic order within the Dinophyceae [62]. Amoebophrya and Hyphochytrids emerged in clone libraries at T96 h and were presumably present among the rare species at T0. The taxa found to be phylogenetically close to Amoebophrya particularly emerged in treatments with increased temperature (Figure 5), along with their hosts (pigmented Dinoflagellates). This observation supports Guillou et al.’s [57] suggestion that warming could promote rapid infection cycles of Amoebophrya. However, broad extrapolation would need to take into selleck chemical account various aspects of the host-parasite relationships, such as the mechanisms underlying the parasitic specificity. In contrast to the Amoebophrya, hyphochytrids were associated with all treatments except those with increased temperature (Figure 5). From our results, we hypothesized that not only parasite communities, but also saprotroph communities would be shaped by temperature and UVBR conditions, as already described in other ecosystems [63]. The responses of saprotrophs to these drivers may result from direct and/or indirect effects as demonstrated in soils [64]; further research is probably needed on the saprotrophs in aquatic systems since changes in their assemblages may influence organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling.