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The Role of Higher Trophic Levels in a Sublittoral Benthic Community
Author(s) -
Wurzian Rolf Stephan
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0485.1984.tb00303.x
Subject(s) - trophic level , benthic zone , ingestion , respiration , respiration rate , biology , ecology , omnivore , environmental science , predation , endocrinology , botany
. The ingestion of carnivores and omnivores was determined during the investigation of higher trophic levels in a North Adriatic benthic community. The ingestion rate was calculated from respiration data using a respiration‐production equation and an assumed assimilation efficiency. In the case of the starfish Astropecten aranciacus the ingestion rate obtained by this indirect method was in good agreement with the ingestion rate calculated directly from gut contents, taking the retaining period of food items in the gut into consideration. These results are compared to previously published ingestion rates. The influence of A aranciacus on the community is briefly discussed.