Influence of algal population dynamics on phytoplankton colonization by bacteria: evidence from two diatom species

Study of 2 diatom species, Leptocylindrus danicus and Skeletonema costatum, growing in a n enclosed plankton community showed that most of the variability in the extent of epialgal colonization (i.e.bacteria algal cell-') was attributable to differences within species, compared to small among-species and temporal vanability.Within-species variability was related to the populahon dynamics of the diatom species examined, because the extent of colonization increased with the time algal cells had been exposed to colonization.Thus, modelling of algal colonization by bacteria requlres both consideration of encounter probabilities and phytoplankton demography.