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In situ feeding rate and diet selectivity in Tasmanian mysid species (Crustacea, Mysidacea)

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Abstract

We determined in situ feeding rates of three co-occurring coastal mysid species using [methyl-3H]-thymidine-labelled algal detritus (Lessonia corrugata), NaH14CO3-labelled phytoplankton (Isochrysis galbana) and zooplankton (Artemia sp. nauplii). All three species showed a wide and overlapping range of feeding rates on the three food types, suggesting they were broadly omnivorous. However, selectivity studies often showed a strong preference for animal prey. Although there was an overlap in the types of food the mysids ingested, some degree of feeding niche partitioning was demonstrated. Paramesopodopsis rufa tended to be more carnivorous, Tenagomysis tasmaniae fed least on zooplankton and phytoplankton, and largely on algal detritus, and Anisomysis mixta australis ingested few zooplankters, and moderate amounts of algal detritus and phytoplankton.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Drs Jeremy J. Austin and Matthew Edmunds for SCUBA diving assistance; Richard Holmes and Ron Mawbey, skippers of the Wobbegong; Dr MT Rachel Sanchez-Metillo for copyediting the manuscript; and Dr Gwen E. Fenton and two anonymous reviewers for constructive comments. EBM wishes to thank the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (now AUSAID) for the John Crawford scholarship award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City, 9200, The Philippines

    Ephrime B. Metillo

  2. School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Ephrime B. Metillo, David A. Ritz & Kerrie M. Swadling

  3. Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Kerrie M. Swadling

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  1. Ephrime B. Metillo
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  2. David A. Ritz
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  3. Kerrie M. Swadling
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Correspondence to Ephrime B. Metillo.

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Handling editor: P. Viaroli

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Metillo, E.B., Ritz, D.A. & Swadling, K.M. In situ feeding rate and diet selectivity in Tasmanian mysid species (Crustacea, Mysidacea). Hydrobiologia 589, 207–218 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-0732-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-0732-4

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