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Effects of freshwater red tide of Peridinium bipes (dinoflagellate) in August of 1991 on the carbon flux through the microbial loop were studied in Soyang Reservoir. Chlorophyll a and primary production, bacterial production in red tide area were 22, 18 and 400 times higher, respectively, than other sites. Phytoplankton biomass comprised 97% and 20% of food source of zooplankton grazing within and without red tide, respectively. The percent bacterial production supported by phytoplankton exudate was 14% within red tide and >100% without red tide. In laboratory experiments, more than 85% organic carbon of Peridinium biomass was released or degraded by heterotrophic bacteria within 14 days. As results of red tide of Peridinium with sudden influx of organic carbon in water column, the main food source of zooplankton and dependency of bacteria on phytoplankton exudate were changed. Therefore, the relative importance of microbial loop to grazing food web was changed.
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