Ingestion rate and grazing impact by the mixotrophic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum on natural populations of marine heterotrophic bacteria in the coastal waters of Korea

We explored feeding by the mixotrophic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum, heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNFs), and small ciliates (<$30{\mu}m$ in cell length) on natural populations of heterotrophic bacteria in Masan Bay, Keum River Estuary, and in the coastal waters of the Saemankeum area, Korea when M. rubrum red tides occurred. We also measured ingestion rates of M. rubrum on cultured heterotrophic bacteria as a function of bacterial concentration in the laboratory. The ingestion rates of M. rubrum on natural populations of heterotrophic bacteria (2.3-16.8 bacteria $grazer^{-1}h^{-1}$) were comparable to or lower than those of co-occurring HNFs (10.7-41.7 bacteria $grazer^{-1}h^{-1}$), but much lower than those of co-occurring small ciliates (76.0-462.2 bacteria $grazer^{-1}h^{-1}$). However, the maximum grazing coefficient of M. rubrum ($0.245d^{-1}$) on natural populations of heterotrophic bacteria was much higher than that of small ciliates ($0.089d^{-1}}$), and slightly higher than that of HNFs ($0.204d^{-1}$). With increasing bacterial concentrations, ingestion rates of M. rubrum on cultured heterotrophic bacteria continuously increased, but became saturated at higher prey concentrations over $1-5{\times}10^6cells\;mL^{-1}$. The maximum ingestion rate of M. rubrum on cultured heterotrophic bacteria was 34.4 bacteria $grazer^{-1}h^{-1}$. Based on the present study, it is suggested that M. rubrum may be an important grazer of heterotrophic bacteria and sometimes have considerable grazing impact on natural populations of heterotrophic bacteria.