The feeding behaviour of Leptodora kindti and its impact on the zooplankton community of Neusiedler See (Austria)

Leptodora kindti is a very efficient invertebrate predator. Its searching mode of preying is tactile. The setae of the first thoracic limb act as mechanoreceptors, the other thoracic limbs, thorax and head together form the shape of an open basket in which after encounter the prey is pushed in by th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 1990-06, Vol.198 (1), p.107-117
Main Authors: HERZIG, A, AUER, B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal ethology
Biological and medical sciences
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Leptodora kindti
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
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Summary:Leptodora kindti is a very efficient invertebrate predator. Its searching mode of preying is tactile. The setae of the first thoracic limb act as mechanoreceptors, the other thoracic limbs, thorax and head together form the shape of an open basket in which after encounter the prey is pushed in by the aid of the first thoracic limbs and the furca. In Neusiedler See, small individuals of Diaphanosoma brachyurum (0.6-0.9 mm) are the preferred prey, rarely copepods are taken. The predation rate is influenced by temperature, prey density and predator size and varies between less than one and 12 prey items per predator per day. At high predator densities, Leptodora will have a substantial effect on the Diaphanosoma population of Neusiedler See.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1007/BF00048627