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Water-Cover Influences On Diatom Ingestion Rates By Meiobenthic Copepods, Alan W. Decho

Faculty Publications

Laboratory experiments on meiobenthic copepods using ¹⁴C-diatoms were conducted to investigate whether: (1) feeding rates or (2) food sources (planktonically-suspended foods or benthic sediment-associated foods) vary in response to the presence or absence of water-cover (i.e. simulated Higher-water vs Low-water conditions). Three diatom-feeding harpacticoids were examined. Scottolana canadensis feeds at significantly higher rates (2x) during Higher-water (HW) conditions (P<0.001), at which time it consumes planktonic foods; during Low-water (LW), feeding is greatly reduced. These feeding patterns are related to its burrow-dwelling and to its subtidal habitat. Cletocamptus deitersi remains virtually unaffected by changes in ambient water-cover, feeding at nearly equal rates during HW and LW conditions but always tending to consume more benthic diatoms. Microarthridion littorale consumes food at nearly equal rates during HW and LW …