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Size‐Selective Predation on Daphnia by Neomysis Mercedis
Author(s) -
Murtaugh Paul A.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1936986
Subject(s) - daphnia , predation , biology , planktivore , zooplankton , ecology , branchiopoda , crustacean , invertebrate , range (aeronautics) , cladocera , zoology , materials science , phytoplankton , nutrient , composite material
Predation on different—sized Daphnia by the crustacean Neomysis mercedis was examined in the laboratory and the field. Small mysids select the smallest prey available, while adult mysids can consume Daphnia as large as 3.0 mm. Laboratory observations and frequencies of injured Daphnia in the lake indicate that difficulty in handling prey sets the upper limit to the size of Daphnia ingested. The pattern of electivity over the manageable size range of prey is variable for large Neomysis, suggesting that the mysids may alter their feeding behavior in response to changing availability of prey. Freshwater mysids apparently consume prey of a broader size range than most other invertebrate planktivores. The opportunities for evolutionary adjustment of body size and morphology in response to mysid predation are relatively limited for zooplankton prey, especially in lakes where visual predators restrict the sizes that can be attained. This limitation may help to explain the apparent effectiveness of mysids in controlling Daphnia populations.