Skip to main content
Log in

A note on the feeding of Calanus helgolandicus on detritus

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Experiments on the feeding of Calanus helgolandicus females on detrital material were carried out. Natural detritus from the ocean was never ingested, whereas dead diatoms were readily eaten. Furthermore, it was shown that C. helgolandicus females ingested large amounts of fecal material produced by the same species in other vessels. These results indicate that the copepod C. helgolandicus feeds not only on living organisms, but also on dead particles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Barker-Jörgensen, C.: The food of filter feeding organisms. Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer 153, 99–107 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Baylor, E. R. and W. A. Sutcliffe, Jr.: Dissolved organic matter in seawater as a source of particulate food. Limnol. Oceanogr. 8, 369–371 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Beers, J. R. and G. L. Stewart: Micro-zooplankton and its abundance relative to the larger zooplankton and other seston components. Mar. Biol. 4, 182–189 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodson, A. N. and W. H. Thomas: Concentrating plankton in a gentle fashion. Limnol. Oceanogr. 9, 455–456 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankenberg, C. and K. L. Smith, Jr.: Coprophagy in marine animals. Limnol. Oceanogr. 12, 443–450 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullin, M. M.: Some factors affecting the feeding of marine copepods of the genus Calanus. Limnol. Oceanogr. 8, 239–250 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • — Selective feeding by calanoid copepods from the Indian Ocean. In: sed Some contemporary studies in marine science, pp 545–554. Ed. by H. Barnes. London: Allen & Unwin 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • — and E. R. Brooks: Laboratory cultures, growth rate, and feeding behavior of a planktonic marine copepod. Limnol. Oceanogr. 12, 657–666 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T. R. and R. J. LeBrasseur: The availability of food to different trophic levels in the marine food chain. In: Symposium on marine food chains, Aarhus. Ed. by J. H. Steele. University of California Press 1968.

  • — and J. D. Fulton: Some observations on the dependence of zooplankton grazing on the cell size and concentration of phytoplankton blooms. J. oceanogr. Soc. Japan 23, 10–17 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and J. D. H. Strickland: Oceanic detritus. Science, N. Y. 136, 313–314 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pomeroy, L. R. and R. E. Johannes: Occurrence and respiration of ultraplankton in the upper 500 meters of the ocean. Deep Sea Res. 15, 381–391 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, G. A.: Organic aggregates in seawater and the dynamics of their formation and utilization. Limnol. Oceanogr. 8, 372–381 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. D. H.: Production of organic matter in the primary stages of the marine food chain. In: sed Treatise on chemical oceanography, pp 477–610. Ed. by J. P. Riley and G. Skirrow. London: Academic Press 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • — and T. R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167, 1–203 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by G. L. Voss, Miami

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paffenhöfer, G.A., Strickland, J.D.H. A note on the feeding of Calanus helgolandicus on detritus. Marine Biology 5, 97–99 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00352591

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00352591

Keywords

Navigation