Summary
Gut analysis of Streptocephalus dichotomus revealed that the main source of food is phytoplankton.
S. dichotomus is a non-selective filter feeder, taking in all the food-items carried in the feeding currents and passed through the midventral groove. The feeding currents are produced by the thoracic limbs.
Feeding experiments have shown that the time taken for the passage of food is directly proportional to the number of days of starvation. Food intake of males did not significantly differ from that of females when fresh animals were used, as well as animals used after one day of starvation.
Fresh males as well as females took in significantly more food than starved animals.
The digestive enzymes such as carbohydrases, proteases and lipases are present in the gut. The optimal pH for amylase ranged between, 5.8 to 6.6, for protease 7.4 to 8.0 and for lipase 5.2 to 6.5.
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This work formed a part of the thesis submitted to the University of Madras, in 1970 for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
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Bernice, R. Food, feeding and digestion in streptocephalus dichotomus baird (Crustacea: Anostraca). Hydrobiologia 38, 507–520 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036556
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036556