Abstract
The gut contents ofNais elinguis in an organically polluted river were dominated by epilithic chlorophycean unicells and pennate diatoms with an average cell volume of 1.3 × 103 µm3. The worm unselectively and opportunistically ingested unicellular algae up to a maximum length of 196 µm and a maximum volume of 24 × 103 µm3, but colonial and filamentous algae were discriminated against. The morphometry of the pharynx ofN. elinguis probably determined the maximum size of algal cells which could be ingested.
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Bowker, D.W., Wareham, M.T. & Learner, M.A. The selection and ingestion of epilithic algae byNais elinguis (Oligochaeta: Naididae). Hydrobiologia 98, 171–178 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185635
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185635