Foraging behaviour of Brachionus calyciflorus (Pallas): variations in the swimming path according to presence or absence of algal food (Chlorella)

Abstract

Both swimming and attachment behaviour of immature female Brachionus calyciflorus (Pallas) from a young orthoclone were analyzed under four experimental conditions: with and without algae (Chlorella), and with fed and starved individuals. Eighteen hours before the recording, two random groups were formed. To the first group, Chlorella was added. The second was placed in pure water. Both were filmed in red light to avoid a phototactic effect. Video-recorded swimming behaviour of B. calyciflorus was analyzed by automatic tracking. Each B. calyciflorus was filmed alternately in the presence or absence of Chlorella for five periods of 15 min. Under indentical light and temperature conditions the number of animals attached to the culture dish was measured with both starved and fed females. We observed a significant difference in swimming paths depending on the presence or absence of food, and the physiological state of the individuals. In the presence of Chlorella the linear speed was lower and the angular speed was greater. This increase in angular speed was more pronounced when females were subjected to a period of starvation before the experimentation. The attachment behaviour increased in the algal environment. This modification of swimming behaviour enables females to increase the time spent in a favorable food environment.