The small eukaryotes of great tropical African lakes: the importance in the food web

FERMANI, P; MORANA, C.; LLIRÓS, M.; DESCY, J.P.; SARMENTO, H.

Congreso; International Society of Limnology (SIL). XXXIII Congress; 2016

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in all biogeochemical cycles and constitute an important part of the structure of microbial food web in lakes and oceans. Small eukaryotes could be of even greater significance in oligotrophic tropical lakes, where environmental conditions constantly supports the smaller fraction of the plankton. The large East African Rift lakes have a high productivity. During the last decades active fisheries supply local populations, changing the structure of the food chain. Despite heterotrophic microorganisms are important in the biochemical cycles, they have been less explored. The aim of this work was to determinate the total abundance and biomass of planktonic protists over vertical profiles of four African lakes and to identify the importance in the food web. Samples was collected during the wet period in the pelagic zone of Victoria, Edward, and Albert in May 2012; and at two stations (Gisenyi and Ishungu) in Kivu, in February 2013. Limnological and biological samples was collected by members of the EAGLES, MICKI and DAMAS teams. Most of physical and chemical variables differed significantly (p