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Grazing of Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) in Flooded Soils by Cypris sp. (Ostracoda)¹

ABSTRACT

Grazing by the microcrustacean, Cypris, on five species of ¹⁴C-labelled N₂-fixing blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in flooded soils indicated diet preferences among the algae. Animal size and floodwater temperature markedly affected feeding rates, but pH had little effect from pH 5.0 to 10.0. Control of feeding was achieved with low concentrations of lindane. Cell size of the blue-green algae was not apparently responsible for diet selection, but cell age was significant with two species. It is suggested that nitrogen fixation by blue-green algae in paddy fields may be increased by using inocula of algae not suitable for active grazing or by suppressing grazing by means of insecticides.

¹ Contribution from Dep. of Agronomy, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY 14853. This investigation was supported by a grant from the U. N. Development Program.

² Postdoctoral Associate and Professor of Soil Science, respectively.

Received for publication October 30, 1980. Accepted for publication February 11, 1981.