IMIS

Publications | Institutes | Persons | Datasets | Projects | Maps
[ report an error in this record ]basket (1): add | show Print this page
one publication added to basket [55418]
Grazing preferences of marine isopods and amphipods on three prominent algal species of the Baltic Sea
Goecker, M.E.; Kåll, S.E. (2003). Grazing preferences of marine isopods and amphipods on three prominent algal species of the Baltic Sea. J. Sea Res. 50(4): 309-314. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2003.04.003
In: Journal of Sea Research. Elsevier/Netherlands Institute for Sea Research: Amsterdam; Den Burg. ISSN 1385-1101; e-ISSN 1873-1414, more
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
Keywords
    Algae
    Behaviour > Feeding behaviour > Grazing
    Food preferences
    Cladophora Kützing, 1843 [WoRMS]; Enteromorpha intestinalis (Linnaeus) Nees, 1820 [WoRMS]; Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus, 1753 [WoRMS]; Gammarus oceanicus Segerstråle, 1947 [WoRMS]; Idotea baltica Pallas, 1772 [WoRMS]
    ANE, Baltic [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    herbivory; food preference; Baltic sea; algae; mesograzers
Authors  Top 
  • Goecker, M.E.
  • Kåll, S.E.
Abstract
    Preference tests were performed over a two-week period in September 2001 in which isopods (Idotea baltica) and amphipods (Gammarus oceanicus) were offered choices of three common species of algae from the Baltic Sea: Enteromorpha intestinalis, Cladophora spp., and Fucus vesiculosus. After a 48-hour starvation period, 20 individuals of each grazer species were placed in aquaria containing approximately 1.0 g of each algal species. Fifteen trials for each grazer species were run for 20 hours. We found that G. oceanicus ate significantly more Cladophora spp. and E. intestinalis than F. vesiculosus (p<0.001), with a preference order of: Cladophora spp.>E. intestinalis>F. vesiculosus. Similarly, I. baltica ate significantly more of both the filamentous green algae than F. vesiculosus (p<0.001), with a preference order of: E. intestinalis>Cladophora spp.>F. vesiculosus. Given the preference of isopods and amphipods for filamentous green algae, we might expect these algae to be maintained at low biomass levels. However, this is clearly not the case in the Baltic Sea. Nutrient enrichment (bottom-up effects) is the accepted dominant reason for the non-controlling impact of algal grazers, but other reasons may include cascading trophic effects resulting from the removal of large piscivorous fish (top-down effects).
All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors