The feeding habits and food sources of the deposit-feeding polychaete, Neanthes japonica (Izuka)
In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Elsevier: New York. ISSN 0022-0981; e-ISSN 1879-1697, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Tsuchiya, M.
- Kurihara, Y.
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| Abstract |
The food sources exploited by the deposit-feeding polychaete, Neanthes japonica (Izuka) have been studied. The viable bacteria growing on the surface of certain components of the deposit play an important rôle as a source of food for N. japonica. Furthermore, food consumption levels for N. japonica were higher for diatoms, blue-green algae, and fragments of marsh reed, which had been decomposed by bacteria, than for fresh ones. The importance of bacteria and protozoans as food for N. japonica was supported by the observation that sludge obtained from sewage aeration tanks, which consisted of bacteria and protozoa, was easily consumed. The faeces of N. japonica, which contain 3.8% total carbon and 0.3% total nitrogen, act as the substrate for bacteria, protozoans, and microalgae after decomposition by bacteria, and as food for N. japonica. |
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