Mesozooplankton omnivory in the upper San Francisco Estuary

While many studies have examined mesozooplankton feeding in coastal environments, less attention has been given to this subject in estuaries. We used bottle incubation experiments to measure the feeding rates of a cladoceran (Daphniasp.), a calanoid copepod (Acartiaspp.), and 2 cyclopoid copepods (O...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 2007-10, Vol.348, p.33-46
Main Authors: Gifford, Scott M., Rollwagen-Bollens, Gretchen, Bollens, Stephen M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acartia
Bacillariophyceae
Biomass
Brackish
Carbon
Cladocera
Daphnia
Diatoms
Diet
Estuaries
Ingestion
Oithona davisae
Phytoplankton
Plankton
Predators
Salinity
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Summary:While many studies have examined mesozooplankton feeding in coastal environments, less attention has been given to this subject in estuaries. We used bottle incubation experiments to measure the feeding rates of a cladoceran (Daphniasp.), a calanoid copepod (Acartiaspp.), and 2 cyclopoid copepods (Oithona davisaeandLimnoithona tetraspina) on the protist plankton (2 ml predator (pred.)–1h–1.O. davisaeconsumed only ciliates in September 2004, while in November 2004 it cleared both ciliates and diatoms at similar rates (0.8 ml pred.–1h–1).L. tetraspinacleared only aloricate ciliates and flagellates (0.8 to 1.0 ml pred.–1h–1).Acartiaspp. had the highest clearance rates on diatoms of all the predators examined (mean 2.0 ml pred.–1h–1). With respect to biomass ingestion, in every experiment mesozooplankton were found to ingest ciliate carbon at the highest rates (3 to 29 ng C pred.–1h–1). Our results indicate that while estuarine mesozooplankton are often omnivorous, important species-specific differences exist, and microzooplankton, especially ciliates, are an important component of the upper SFE food web.
ISSN:0171-8630
1616-1599
DOI:10.3354/meps07003