English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

10 pages, 4 figures, 4 tablesPenilia avirostris is an important component of the mesozooplankton of shelf waters during the stratification period. This study investigates the feeding ecology of P. avirostris under natural dietary conditions in the NW Mediterranean during their summer appearance. The results indicate that P. avirostris feeds on particles in a wide size range, mostly on nanoplankton (2 to 20 μm), including larger prey such as dinoflagellates and ciliates. Autotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria were not grazed on, but picoflagellates (<2 μm) were significant contributors to diet, indicating a narrow threshold of lower prey size. Ciliates were cleared at low rates which, at times, were not significant, probably because of their ability to escape feeding currents. Although this marine cladoceran is considered to behave like a filter feeder, our results indicate that it can display variable selectivity patterns that do not only depend on prey size. During the strict oligotrophic conditions that were present in summer NW Mediterranean waters, daily rations of P. avirostris averaged 82 % body C d-1 (range: 26 to 157 %). Such feeding rates seem to be an adaptation to allow them to succeed under low food conditions and outcompete other components of the marine zooplankton, such as copepods. © Inter-Research 2006This work was supported by a PhD fellowship from the Spanish Government to D.A., by the Spanish CICYT Projects REN2001-1693 and CTM2004-02575/MAR, and by the Ramón y Cajal Program of the Ministry of Education and Science of SpainPeer Reviewe

Feeding ecology of the marine cladoceran Penilia avirostris: natural diet, prey selectivity and daily ration