Journal article
Observations of insect predation on rotifers
Hydrobiologia, Vol.446(1), pp.115-121
03/2001
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/116330
Abstract
Interactions between rotifers and their insect predators have not received adequate attention, possibly due to the assumption that rotifers are too small for insects to eat. In laboratory experiments, we offered the rotifers Hexarthra mira, Plationus patulus and small and large Synchaeta pectinata to four common insect predators: the notonectids Notonecta lunata and Buenoa macrotibialis, the smaller hemipteran Neoplea striola and small (1.5 mm) aeschnid dragonfly larvae. Excepting Plationus offered to dragonflies, all rotifer preys were consumed to some degree. No size selectivity was apparent for predators that ate few rotifers, but small instar Buenoa ate significantly more large (420 μm) than small (300 μm) Synchaeta. Predator size appeared to be less important than predatory style and prey morphology in determining ingestion rates. Neoplea and dragonflies ate more Hexarthra than Plationus, while the pattern was reversed for Buenoa, possibly because Buenoa is able to manipulate the hard lorica of Plationus better. Insect predators are capable of direct suppression of rotifer populations, an interaction which may be particularly important in littoral zones and fishless ponds where macroinvertebrates are numerous.
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Details
- Title
- Observations of insect predation on rotifers
- Creators
- Stephanie Hampton - Department of Biological Sciences Dartmouth College 6044 Gilman Hanover NH 03755-3576 U.S.AJohn Gilbert - Department of Biological Sciences Dartmouth College 6044 Gilman Hanover NH 03755-3576 U.S.A
- Publication Details
- Hydrobiologia, Vol.446(1), pp.115-121
- Academic Unit
- Center for Environmental Research, Education, and Outreach
- Publisher
- Kluwer Academic Publishers; Dordrecht
- Identifiers
- 99900547668801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article