Suspension-feeding and assimilation efficiency in Lanice conchilega
In: Marine Biology: International Journal on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0025-3162; e-ISSN 1432-1793, more
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| Keywords |
Analytical techniques > Colorimetric techniques
Aquatic organisms > Heterotrophic organisms > Filter feeders
Food consumption
Food conversion
Properties > Physical properties > Weight > Dry weight
Suspended organic matter
Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766) [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
In lab experiments, measurements of ingested ration, assimilated ration and assimilation efficiency in the polychaete L. conchilega were carried out at 12{degree}C and at a food concn of 40 x 10 Super(6) cells of Dunaliella marina. Over periods of 20 to 46 days, the ingested ration was determined photometrically by the continuous automatic recording apparatus described by Winter (1973). The assimilated ration was calculated from the calorific content of the food ingested minus the calorific content of the faeces produced. Within the range of body size investigated (1.3 to 35.0 mg dry-tissue wt), the food intake (= filtration rate = F) was found to be a linear function of body size (W) according to the equation F = 0.88W Super(0.32). the daily food intake-expressed as percentage of dry-tissue wt-decreased from 35.7 to 3.9% with increasing body size. The assimilation efficiency was found to vary between 70.6 and 77.2% and showed no significant correlation with body size. The absolute amounts of food retained from suspension and the assimilation efficiencies calculated for L. conchilega are within the range typical for obligatory suspension-feeding organisms. This implies that L. conchilega is capable of completely replacing deposit-feeding by suspension-feeding. |
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