Regulation of the abundance and growth of ciliates in a newly-flooded reservoir

The specific growth rates of ciliates were measured in diffusion chambers after the first flooding of a reservoir. The abundance of nanoplankton and the high concentrations of dissolved organic matter could explain why the growth rate, whose average value was 0.07 ± 0.06 h -1 , was higher than that recorded in other lakes of similar trophic status. The abundance of ciliates was strongly controlled by Daphnia longispina and Asplanchna priodonta.