Life-stage differences in the diet of Parabroteas sarsi (Daday) (Copepoda, Calanoida): A field study |
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| Authors: | Marina P Vega |
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| Abstract: | The diet of P. sarsi in different life-stages from copepodid I to adult was investigated. Gut contents of copepodid I to II consisted mainly of algae such as diatoms and dinoflagellates. From copepodid III to adult stages the composition of the diet changed towards the inclusion of nauplii, cladocerans and copepods. The importance of the algae on the diet decreased with the inclusion of the prey items. Copepods were the most important components of the diet from C V to adult. Differences in the capture and ingestion of cladocerans and copepods were found. Diet of P. sarsi can be characterized as diverse consisting of diatoms, phagotrophic algae, protozoans, rotifers and nauplii from C I to C III and consisting mainly of carnivorous items from C IV to adult. The ability to eat a variety of food allows the copepods to modify their diet with varying conditions in the food environment. The effect of these diversity in the diet seems to be advantageous, specially in stressed environments imposed by episodes of drying. |
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| Keywords: | P sarsi life-stages zooplankton feeding gut contents body size |
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