Grazing Rates of Rotifers and Their Contribution to Community Grazing in the Nakdong River

Rotifer grazing rates in both species and community levels on bacteria and phytoplankton were determined by using representative models (fluorescent beads: 0.75$\mu m$ for bacteria and 10 $\mu m$ for phytoplankton) at biweekly intervals. One-year study at the lower part of the Nakdong River (Mulgum) indicated that the seasonal pattern of rotifer biomass was similar to that of total zooplankton biomass. Total mean biomass of rotifers was significantly higher than that of other groups (rotifers, 148$\pm $327 $\mu g$C/l; cladoceran. 25$\pm 69$$\mu g$C/l; copepodids. 58$\pm 159$$\mu g$C/l). For laboratory grazing experiments. mean specific filtering rate (SFR: $ml\cdot \; l^{-1}\cdot \; day^{-1}$) for rotifers varied from 0.001 to 0.726, and > 90% individuals of rotifer species took up fluorescent microspheres. The high SFRs were achieved by Brachionus angularis, B. calyciflorus, and Filinia longiseta. Community filtering rates (CFRs, $ml\cdot \; l^{-1}\cdot \; day^{-1}$) varied in the range from 2 ~ 1,670. Rotifer filtering rates on phytoplankton were much higher than bacterial filtering rates, especially in the late growing season (May. June, and November). Rotifers appear to be important in transferring both bacterial and phytoplankton carbon to higher trophic levels at the lower Nakdong River.