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Feeding differences among common littoral mysids, Neomysis integer, Praunus flexuosus and P. inermis

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Abstract

The energy flow in aquatic food webs and their structures are largely determined by food utilisation of predators. Mysid shrimps are important predators in various aquatic ecosystems. We studied the stomach contents of three common littoral mysids from the Baltic Sea. The aim was to study whether the diets differ between species and size classes inhabiting shallow coastal areas. The effects of season (spring, summer, autumn) and habitat were also explored. Results showed that all species were highly omnivorous, utilising various phyto- and zooplankton prey, algal filaments and dead organic material through the growing season. No ontogenetic diet shifts were observed although different size classes preferred slightly different prey. The amount of detritus increased in the diets during growth. In addition, large mysids ate more macro- and less microzooplankton compared with the small ones. There were also species-specific differences in the food utilisation. Neomysis integer ate more benthic material, Praunus flexuosus more macrozooplankton and P. inermis more phytoplankton compared with the others. These differences reflect microhabitat differences and probably also size differences of the studied species. Seasonal variation was also observed in the diets. Food utilisation followed the changes in the food availability, e.g. phytoplankton spring bloom and zooplankton peak abundances in late summer. Results confirm the omnivorous nature of mysids showing the importance of a diversity of prey as energy sources during growth.

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Acknowledgements

This paper is dedicated to late Heikki Salemaa, whom we thank for the discussions and the idea of this work. Field and laboratory facilities were provided by the Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki. This study was financed by Walter and Andrée de Nottbeck Foundation and the Academy of Finland (#216554).

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  1. Hanna Nordström

    Present address: WWF Finland, Lintulahdenkatu 10, 00500, Helsinki, Finland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnish Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 2, 00561, Helsinki, Finland

    Maiju Lehtiniemi

  2. Tvärminne Zoological Station, J. A. Palménin tie 260, 10900, Hanko, Finland

    Maiju Lehtiniemi & Hanna Nordström

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  1. Maiju Lehtiniemi
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Correspondence to Maiju Lehtiniemi.

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Lehtiniemi, M., Nordström, H. Feeding differences among common littoral mysids, Neomysis integer, Praunus flexuosus and P. inermis . Hydrobiologia 614, 309–320 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-008-9515-9

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