The trophic linkage between zooplankton and benthic suspension feeders: direct evidence from analyses of bivalve faecal pellets |
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Authors: | Wai Hing Wong Jeffrey S Levinton |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5245, USA;(2) Present address: Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, 1824 Highway 56, Chauvin, LA 70344, USA |
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Abstract: | Using radiotracer (14C) and microscopic observation, we demonstrated that mussels (Mytilus edulis and Perna viridis) could be predators of mesozooplankton (rotifer Brachionus plicatilis). At radio-labelled rotifer densities of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 individual ml−1, faecal pellets of mussels showed different degrees of radio signals and most of the faecal pellets were expelled 4 h after
pulse feeding on rotifers. The maximum gut retention time (GRT) of 14C-labelled rotifers in the digestive diverticula did not o show any significant difference between the two mussel species
or the different densities of rotifers, and the averaged GRT was 43.4±3.06 h (mean ± SE). At a rotifer density of 4.5 individual ml−1, rotifer lorica pieces and rotifer bodies without eggs were found in faeces of M. edulis, while in the pseudofaeces, only complete rotifer bodies were found. |
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