Assimilation of Particular Organic Matter and Dissolved Organic or Inorganic Compounds by Cribroelphidium selseyense (Foraminifera)

Marine carbon and nitrogen processing through microorganisms’ metabolism is an important aspect of the global element cycles. For that purpose, we used foraminifera to analyze turnover with different algae food sources. In Baltic Sea, benthic are quite common therefore it understand their metabolism. Especially, Cribroelphidium selseyense , also occurring in has often been for laboratory feeding experiments test effect on or turnover. Therefore, were collected from Kiel Fjord fed six algal species two qualities (freeze-dried vs. fresh algae, all 13 C- 15 N-labeled). Also, labeled dissolved inorganic C N compounds glucose offered direct assimilation (carbon nitrogen) water column. Our showed after days incubation, there highly significant differences isotope labeling dry depending species. Further, led enrichment studied foraminifera, highlighting a preference one diatom Eustigmatophyte. A HCO 3 – was observed 7 incubation. The NH 4 + significantly higher than NO as source. uptake lag phase, which during past experiments, where steady state no at regular intervals. These results highlight importance quality behavior metabolic pathways further studies foraminiferal nutrition nutrient cycling.