Effects of light availability on mixotrophy and microzooplankton grazing in an oligotrophic plankton food web: Evidences from a mesocosm study in Eastern Mediterranean waters

► We examined the effects of light limitation on E. Mediterranean plankton using mesocosms. ► Grazers final biomass was ca. 2x higher in the high light than in the dark treatments. ► Mixotrophic ciliates decreased under light limitation. ► Flagellated mixotrophs enhanced grazing response only in dark treatment, on last day. ► The carbon flux through microzooplankton in high light treatment was ca. 50% higher.