The food-web of the Cladophora-belt fauna
In: Helgoländer Wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen. Biologische Anstalt Helgoland: Hamburg. ISSN 0017-9957, more Also appears in:Kinne, O.; Aurich, H. (Ed.) (1967). Vorträge und Diskussionen. Erstes Europäisches Symposion über Meeresbiologie = Papers and discussions. First European Symposium on Marine Biology = Rapports et discussions. Premier symposium européen sur biologie marine. European Marine Biology Symposia, 1. Helgoländer Wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen, 15(1-4). 669 pp., more |  |
| Abstract | 1. The species composition of the fauna in theCladophora glomerata belts of the Baltic sea has been studied quantitatively.2. Examples are presented to illustrate composition and density of the epiphytic diatom flora.3. The dry weight ofCladophora glomerata was determined with the aid of length measurements under a microscope. It amounts to 0.25 mg per 1000 mm length of alga filaments, and to 15.9 mg for a tuft with a total surface area of 1 dm2.4. The productivity ofCladophora glomerata was calculated. It amounts to 3105 m alga filaments per dm2 per month.5. The following biomasses per dm2 rock surface have been estimated:Cladophora (dry weight): 0.78 g, diatoms (dry weight): 1.15 g, animals (number of individuals): 12 544.6. The fauna of theCladophora-belt has been subdivided according to feeding types.7. Some herbivores have been studied in laboratory experiments. The epiphytic diatoms are important for survival of the first postmarsupial stages of the isopodIdotea baltica as well as for maximum growth rates of the gastropodHydrobia ulvae and chironomid larvae.8. The daily consumption ofCladophora-filaments has been determined for juveniles of the isopodIdotea baltica and the amphipodGammarus oceanicus by microscope examinations of faecal pellets.9. The diatom diet of the rotiferProales reinhardti has been listed according to genera or species. Among the animals living in theCladophora-belt,P. reinhardti attains the highest numbers of individuals.10. Examples of food-chains within theCladophora community are presented. |
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