Prey selection by <i>Asplanchna girodi</i> (Rotifera): the importance of prey defence mechanisms

Conde‐Porcuna, José M.; Sarma, S. S. S.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.1995.tb00396.x

Cited by 30 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…However, increased population growth of A. girodi with increasing concentrations of A. fissa is known. Perhaps at higher A. fissa densities, the encounters rates also increase and facilitate prey consumption (Conde-Porcuna & Sarma, 1995). This was not tested with reference to population growth of the predators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Small prey size offers immunity to predation: a case study on two species of Asplanchna and three brachionid prey (Rotifera)

Sarma

2007

Hydrobiologia

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We tested the hypothesis that small prey can coexist with large predators. For this we confronted two predators (smaller Asplanchna brightwellii: 900 mm and larger A. sieboldi: 1400 mm) with three prey rotifers (smaller: Anuraeopsis fissa (70 mm); larger: Brachionus calyciflorus (200 mm) and intermediate: B. patulus (120 mm)) using functional response, prey preference, population growth and life table demography. Regardless of prey type, A. sieboldi was able to consume more prey than A. brightwellii and it consumed higher number of B. patulus than of B. calyciflorus or A. fissa. Prey preference experiments showed that A. brightwellii had no preference for B. calyciflorus regardless of prey density, while A. sieboldi preferred B. calyciflorus and avoided A. fissa. Data on population growth showed that A. brightwellii was always numerically more abundant than A. sieboldi. Prey type had a significant effect on peak abundances of A. sieboldi but not of A. brightwellii. Life table demography data revealed a significantly lower lifespan in A. brightwellii fed B. calyciflorus, compared to B. patulus, but not when compared to A. fissa. A. sieboldi lifespan was not affected by prey type. Depending on prey type and predator species, generation time varied from 2 to 3 days. Both lowest (0.38 d À1 ) and highest (0.98 d À1 ) population growth rates were observed in A. sieboldi. We suggest that reduced reproductive output in Asplanchna was caused by either large (B. calyciflorus) or small (A. fissa) prey. At natural densities of Anuraeopsis, it is unlikely that Asplanchna reaches abundances high enough to exterminate this prey. By its extremely small size (combining low energetic profitability with low encounter rates with predators) A. fissa may coexist with Asplanchna in nature.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Small prey size offers immunity to predation: a case study on two species of Asplanchna and three brachionid prey (Rotifera)

Sarma

2007

Hydrobiologia

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“…Particularly, rotifers were found to induce anterior and posterior spines as a result of exposure to chemical signals from predators (De Beauchamp, 1952;Pourriot, 1964;Gilbert, 1966;Gilbert & Stemberger, 1984). Increasing interest has been elicited into predator regulation of prey species distribution, abundance, and community composition through size-selective predation or preferential selection of superior competitors (Kerfoot & Sih, 1987;Conde-Porcuna & Sarma, 1995;Kumar & Rao, 2001;Yin & Niu, 2008). Some studies found that the vulnerability of prey rotifer species to the predatory rotifer Asplanchna is largely determined by body size and handling time (Hampton & Starkweather, 1998;Nandini et al, 2003;.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Studies of the effect of environmental factors on the rotifer predator–prey system in freshwater

2010

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The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of environmental factors: temperature and photoperiod on the zooplankton predator-prey system. Rotifers, an important and cosmopolitan group of zooplankton in freshwater, were used in our study. We investigated the effect of temperature (20, 23, and 30°C) and of photoperiod (L:D = 12:0 and 0:12) on the predatory rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli consuming rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus as prey. Under A. brightwelli predation, populations of B. calyciflorus prey were consumed more slowly at 20 ± 1 and 30 ± 1°C as compared to 23 ± 1°C. Prey consumption by A. brightwelli increased from 0.63 ± 0.09 ind. predator -1 at 20°C to a peak of 1.22 ± 0.12 ind. predator -1 at 23°C, then decreased significantly to 0.93 ± 0.14 ind. predator -1 at 30 ± 1°C. In addition, predation responded to temperature changing sensitively and rapidly. Statistical analysis showed that the prey consumption were significant different under altered temperature periods during 12 h. Photoperiod also significantly influenced the rate of A. brighwelli predation. B. calyciflorus suffered less predation in darkness than in light. The rate of prey consumption in light (1.06 ind. predator -1 ) was twice the average of that in darkness (0.51 ind. predator -1 ). Furthermore, predation rate varied under changing photoperiod but predators moved back into the light did not resume their original consumption rate. Our results demonstrate that whether the predation in rotifer successfully or not is strongly influenced by temperature and photoperiod.

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“…Brachionus and Keratella. In addition, Asplanchna girodi feeding selectively on egg bearing females of Keratella cochlearis (Conde-Porcuna & Sarma, 1995) led to overestimates of ER compared with the ERs determined in the absence of predation.…”

Section: Influence Of Abiotic and Biotic Factors On The Egg Ratiomentioning

confidence: 84%

Factors Affecting Egg-ratio in Planktonic Rotifers

2005

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EdmondsonÕs egg ratio (number of amictic eggs per female) is an important life history variable, which has been in wide use to understand and predict patterns of population growth in planktonic rotifers under field conditions. It is also useful as an indicator of the health of rotifers under culture conditions. Generally, an inverse relationship exists between the egg ratio and the density of females in a population. A number of abiotic and biotic factors influence the egg ratio. For example, temperature can cause marked changes in the egg ratio by influencing the frequency of egg production and the hatching times of parthenogenetic eggs. Also, preferential feeding on ovigerous females of rotifers by invertebrate predators such as Asplanchna will lower the egg ratios of the population. The easy detachment of eggs, as may be the case in some members of the Brachionidae especially during enhanced reproduction when food levels are high, may also cause an underestimation of the egg ratio. In this review, we discuss the egg ratio of selected rotifer species in relation to the role of diel changes in egg production, the frequency or the intensity of feeding, the problems of distinguishing between different egg types and the negative effect of stressors such as toxicants and diet quality.

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Prey selection by Asplanchna girodi (Rotifera): the importance of prey defence mechanisms

Cited by 30 publications

References 18 publications

Small prey size offers immunity to predation: a case study on two species of Asplanchna and three brachionid prey (Rotifera)

Small prey size offers immunity to predation: a case study on two species of Asplanchna and three brachionid prey (Rotifera)

Studies of the effect of environmental factors on the rotifer predator–prey system in freshwater

Factors Affecting Egg-ratio in Planktonic Rotifers

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