Heterotrophic nanoflagellate Pseudobodo tremulans (4.8 to 7.0 µm) and heterotrophic bacteria, isolated from coastal waters in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil, were used in experiments to analyze quantitatively the relationships between bacteria and nanoflagellates. The meaning of these results for the role of heterotrophic nanoflagellates in the Ubatuba coastal ecosystem is discussed.
nanoflagellate; heterotrophic bacteria; coastal ecosystem; bacterivory