Feeding strategies and diet composition of four Antarctic cnidarian species
Orejas, C.; Gili, J.-M.; López-González, P.J.; Arntz, W.E. (2002). Feeding strategies and diet composition of four Antarctic cnidarian species, in: Arntz, W.E. et al. (Ed.) Ecological studies in the Antarctic sea ice zone: results of EASIZ Midterm Symposium. pp. 140-147 In: Arntz, W.E.; Clarke, A. (Ed.) (2002). Ecological studies in the Antarctic sea ice zone: Results of EASIZ Midterm Symposium. Springer: Berlin. ISBN 3-540-43218-3. 277 pp., more |
| Keywords | Behavior > Feeding behavior
Behaviour > Feeding behaviour
Diet
Diets
Recycling
Recycling
Resource management > Resource utilization > Recycling
Anthomastus bathyproctus Bayer, 1993 [WoRMS]; Clavularia frankliniana Roule, 1902 [WoRMS]; Cnidaria [WoRMS]; Oswaldella antarctica (Jäderholm, 1904) [WoRMS]; Tubularia Ralphi Bale, 1884 [WoRMS]
PSE, Antarctica [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top | - Orejas, C.
- Gili, J.-M.
- López-González, P.J.
- Arntz, W.E.
| | |
| Abstract | The diet of four species of Antarctic cnidarians, two hydroids and two anthozoans, was investigated. One hydroid, Tubularia ralphii, and one anthozoan, Anthomastus bathyproctus, seem to basically consume zooplankton whereas the other hydroid species, Oswaldella antarctica, has a diet mainly based on the fine fraction of seston. The last cnidarian investigated, the stoloniferan alcyonacean, Clavularia cf. frankliniana, feeds mainly on resuspended material. The wide range of diets of these Antarctic cnidarians indicates opportunistic behaviour by feeding on different sources and taking advantage of the available food sources. Data related to low C/N ratios in the sediment and high NO2 concentrations in areas with dense communities of benthic suspension feeders, along with data on capture rates, lead us to hypothesize that these organisms play an important role in the recycling processes of organic matter in Antarctic benthic ecosystems. |
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