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Food consumption and utilization in two freshwater cyclopoid copepods ( mesocyclops edax and cyclops vicinus )
Author(s) -
Brandl ZdenêK,
Fernando C. H.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
internationale revue der gesamten hydrobiologie und hydrographie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 0020-9309
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.19750600403
Subject(s) - biology , predation , crustacean , predator , cyclops , biomass (ecology) , zoology , ecology , larva
The predatory feeding of Mesocyclops edax and Cyclops vicinus was studied using the 14 C‐labelled Ceriodaphnia and some other kinds of the crustacean zooplankters. When given a choice, both species exhibited clear selection of smaller specimens of prey. The feeding rates depend on the kind of prey. The daily ration for the prey readily accepted by Mesocyclops was roughly equal to the predator's biomass, while it was only one half or one third of the body biomass in Cyclops vicinus . Only about one third of the killed biomass was actually ingested and 21–32% was assimilated when the copepods preyed upon the cladocerans or the copepodid larvae. When fed with naupliar larvae the cyclopoid copepods assimilated over 70% of the killed biomass. Almost one half of the freshly assimilated carbon passes through the short term cycle and is quickly respired and excreted.