微型异养鞭毛虫(HNF)是海洋微微型浮游生物的重要摄食者,通过摄食作用对后者的种类(或类群)组成、粒径分布、数量结构和营养价值等属性具有重要的影响,而这与HNF的摄食选择性有直接关系。对HNF摄食选择性的研究有助于深入了解HNF在海洋微食物环乃至整个海洋生态系统中的作用。就国际上已开展的HNF摄食选择性相关研究进行了回顾,分析和总结了影响HNF选择性摄食的关键因素,如食物大小、游动性、营养价值及食物细胞表面的生化结构特征等,并重点介绍了HNF摄食选择性形成的主要机制以及HNF的选择性摄食在调节海洋微微型浮游生物群落结构中的作用。
Heterotrophic nanoflagellate (abbr. , HNF) is the principal consumer of pieoplankton in marine ecosysterr. Recognizing its selective feeding impact is essential to evaluate the role of HNF in the marine microbial food web. Over the last few decades, there has been a concerted effort by many researchers to the understanding of selective grazing behaviors among HNF. This paper, (1) summarize current knowledge on factors affecting HNF selective feeding; (2) discuss mechanisms involved in HNF selective feeding; (3) review the influence of HNF selective feeding on the shape, size structure, taxonomic composition and physiological status of picoplankton communities.