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Selective particle ingestion by a filter‐feeding fish and its impact on phytoplankton community structure 1
Author(s) -
Drenner Ray W.,
Mummert John R.,
deNoyelles Frank,
Kettle Dean
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1984.29.5.0941
Subject(s) - gizzard shad , gizzard , phytoplankton , biology , dorosoma , ingestion , algae , zooplankton , fishery , forage fish , zoology , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , nutrient , biochemistry
The ingestion rates of filter‐feeding gizzard shad for different sizes of suspended particles were measured using mixtures of microspheres and zooplankton. Ingestion rate increases as a function of particle size, leveling off at 60 µ m. The particle‐size‐dependent ingestion rates were consistent with a model of filtering efficiency based on the cumulative frequency of interraker distances of gizzard shad gill rakers. Comparison of ponds containing gizzard shad with control ponds without fish showed that gizzard shad suppressed Ceratium, the only phytoplankton species large enough to be ingested at a maximum rate. Gizzard shad did not have a significant effect on populations of Synedra, Peridinium, Navicula, Kirchneriella, Cyclotella, and Chlamydomonas. Populations of Ankistrodesmus, Cryptomonas, Cosmarium, Rhodomonas, and algae and bacteria from 2‐4 µ m were enhanced by gizzard shad.