| dc.description.abstract | Abundance, biomass and production of planktonic ciliates in Lake Nakuru were
estimated between June, 1993 to January, 1994. Lake Nakuru had high abundances of
a cyanobacterium (Spirulina platensisy, flagellates, algae and bacteria (1.98x1<1 cells.
ml"), which provided food for ciliates and other consumers. Small ciliates with < 50 Jtm
ESD (e.g., Cyclidium) accounted for 78% of total ciliate abundance and were
bacterivores while large ones (> 100 Jtm ESD) were omnivores (e.g., Frontonia) or fed
on bacteria, flagellates and diatoms '(e.g., Paramecium). Other ciliates were carnivores
(e.g., Sphaerophrya). Rotifers were predators of ciliates, but some ciliates fed on
rotifers.
Ciliate abundances. ranged from l.04xHf to 1.42x107 cells.l' (mean 1.15x106
cells.l"). Ciliate biomass ranged from 1.69x107 to 5.0xlO11 pgc.r' (mean 1.82xlOlo
pgC.l-1) and mean production was 6.44xl<1- pgC.l-1.d-l. The variation of ciliate
abundance, biomass and production with month-site, chlorophyll a, bacterial numbers,
rotifer abundance, arid physico-chemical variables is discussed | en |
