Samples of seawater overlying a bed of the mussel Chorornytilus meridionalis (Kr.) at Bailey's Cottage, False Bay, South Africa, were analysed for organic and inorganic content in the particle-size ranges 2-100 pm and 100-200 pm diameter. Organic matter comprised 10-30 % of total sample weight, the remainder being predominantly sand. Changes in weight of particulate matter in samples taken throughout the year showed no clear seasonal pattern. Particulate organic material considered available as food to the nlussels averaged 2.65 mg I-'. Particulate inorganic matter averaged twice this amount. The energy value of the organic material averaged 6.1 kJ g-l. Phytoplankton was present in 34 % of the samples and is not cons~dered an important constituent in the mussels' diet. The assimilation efficiency of mussels feeding on natural detritus averaged 40 % over the ration levels 3-18 mg I-' dry weight of particulate matter. However, assimilation efficiency on pure Dunaliella primolecta culture declined to zero at a ration of 3 mg 1-' while pseudofaeces production was initiated at 6 mg I-'. It was concluded that the presence of particulate inorganic matter may be an important dietary requirement, 'diluting' the food and enabling assimilation to continue at the high ration levels experienced in the field. INTRODUCTIONdata to field conditions, the levels of naturally available food were examined at the study site. The assimiThe employment of algal monocultures has greatly lation efficiencies of mussels feeding on organic facilitated investigation of the feeding processes of detritus in the laboratory and field were then bivalves. Much of this work has centred upon the examined and compared with data obtained with the effects of different ration levels on filtration rates and aid of algal cultures.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.