Nutrition studies in the nauplius larva of Calanus pacificus (Copepoda: Calanoida)

Abstract

Nauplii of Calanus pacificus were raised on a mixture of algae. Details of the mouth-parts, such as denticles, labial palps and lobes, setations and structure of the masticatory teeth were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Under the experimental conditions (15°C and 300 μgC l^-1), exponential growth coefficients for the period Nauplii II–VI were 0.179 for carbon and 0.228 for nitrogen. C:N ratios dropping from 5.1 to 4.7. Growth was isochronous, each stage lasting 1.5 days. Respiratory losses were 15 to 19.6% of body carbon daily. Nauplii raised on a given alga showed higher rates of ingestion in the presence of this food, compared to nauplii switched to other algae. Minimal threshold concentrations for feeding were found, depending on the size of the food offered and ranging from 5.8 μgC I^-1 for Lauderia borealis (28.7 μm spherical diameter) to 47.1 μgC 1^-1 for Chlamydomonas sp. (11.0 μm). Unlike the Copepodite I stage, Nauplii II–VI larvae were not able to ingest small cells such as Isochrysis galbana (4.3 μm), or very large ones such as Ditylum brightwellii (47.5 μm) at more than maintenance rations. Below the critical concentration for maximal feeding, ingestion was clearly dependent on size of the cells offered, but the size-dependent relationship was different for diatoms and non-diatoms. Filtering rates increased from a threshold concentration to a maximal rate at about 50 μgC 1^-1, and decreased at higher concentrations. Critical concentrations ranged from 125 μgC 1^-1 for L. borealis to 1000 μgC 1^-1 for Chlamydomonas sp. Maximal daily rations ranged between 100 and 150% of body carbon.