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Prey selection by Asplanchna girodi (Rotifera): the importance of prey defence mechanisms
Author(s) -
CONDEPORCUNA J.M.,
SARMA S.S.S.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1995.tb00396.x
Subject(s) - rotifer , predation , biology , fecundity , predator , clearance rate , zoology , functional response , ecology , brachionus , population , demography , sociology , endocrinology
SUMMARY 1. Predator (laboratory‐grown Asplanchna girodi and prey (several field‐collected non‐carnivorous rotifer species) interactions were studied in the laboratory as a function of both predator and prey densities. The clearance rates of A, girodi decreased with increasing prey density. Predator density had no effect on the feeding of A. girodi . 2. Asplanchna girodi selectively fed on Keratella cochlearis . Its clearance rates for K. cochlearis were much higher than those for Polyarthra and Brachionus . Short‐spined forms (spine length less than 25 μm) showed a significantly higher susceptibility to predation than either the non‐spined or the long‐spined forms. 3. Large Asplanchna individuals fed selectively on reproductive females of K. cochlearis , thereby reducing the fecundity of their prey.