Effect of food diversity on diatom selection by harpacticoid copepods
Wyckmans, M. (2005). Effect of food diversity on diatom selection by harpacticoid copepods. MSc Thesis. Universiteit Gent; MARELAC: Gent. 21 pp. |
| Available in | Author | | Document type: Dissertation
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| Keywords | Algae > Diatoms
Composition > Chemical composition > Food composition
Resources > Natural resources > Food resources
Harpacticus obscurus Scott T., 1895 [WoRMS]; Paramphiascella fulvofasciata Rosenfield & Coull, 1974 [WoRMS]; Tigriopus brevicornis (Müller O.F., 1776) [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract | Three common intertidal harpacticoid species (Harpacticus obscurus, Paramphiascella fulvofasciata and Tigriopus brevicornis) were offered diatoms as food in laboratory experiments. Diatom species were selected in view of their different size and shape: Navicula phyllepta (small and elliptic, single cells), Grammatophora marina (large cells, colonies), Cylindrotheca closterium (small but more elongated, single cells). Diatoms were offered in different combinations within three levels of food diversity. In each combination, one diatom species was enriched in the stable l3C isotope to facilitate tracing of food resources in the harpacticoids. We tested whether uptake of a particular diatom is affected by food diversity and this was true for all diatom species and copepod species: uptake of the labeled diatom decreased when alternative food resources (other diatoms) were available. Further, there were clear species-specific responses to diatom identity. Irrespective of level of food diversity, H. obscurus took up high amounts of marina whereas both P. fulvofasciata and T. brevicornis preferred C. closterium when given the choice between different diatoms. Diatom selection by harpacticoid copepods thus seems to be affected both by food diversity and food identity. |
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