Oil pollution and plankton dynamics

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Abstract
The abundance pattern of planktonic ciliates was studied outside and inside 4 plastic enclosures (20 m deep. 1 m diameter), which received different treatments (no additions, addition of nutrients, addition of oil, addition of oil and nutrients). Except for increased abundances of Myrionecta rubra (LOHMANN) JANKOWSKI and Tiarina sp. in the control bag compared to outside no marked bag effects were observed. Addition of nutrients was associated with increased abundance of the total assemblage of beterotrophic ciliates, but not of the autotrophic ciliate. M. rubra. Heterotrophic ciliates and M. rubra disappeared from 0.5 and 2 m depth four days after oil addition. The concentration of oil-derived material at the time of disappearance was 0.45 mg per litre. M. rubra appeared to be more sensitive to the oil than the heterotropic ciliates. Addition of nutrients to the oil decreased the negative effects from the oil on the heterotrophic ciliates, but not on M. rubra. A bloom of tintinnids occurred in the bag with added oil and nutrients. It is proposed that the loricated choreotrichs are better protected towards oil-derived material than non-loricated choreotrichs. Tiarina sp. apparently is a predator on M. rubra. The total assemblage of all heterotrophic ciliates and the individual species, Tiarina sp. and Acanthostomella norvegica (DADAY), exhibited minimum generation times of 65, 51, and 27 hours respectively, at temperatures between 14 and 17°C.

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