Heterotrophic microbial processes in polar lakes

TL;DRAbstract

Abstract This chapter examines the activities of heterotrophic microbes (bacteria, flagellates, and ciliated protozoans) in Antarctic continental lakes and Arctic lakes and ponds (Europe, Asia, North America, and Greenland). These microbial food webs consume almost all of the organic carbon produced in these inland waters (autochthonous carbon) or produced on land and transported into these waters (allochthonous carbon). The photosynthetic flagellates that sit on the boundary between heterotrophy and phototrophy (mixotrophs) are also described. In the Antarctic, mixotrophy may play an important role in sustaining communities during winter. In some instances, these mixotrophic microbes may be seasonally important as consumers of bacteria.

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