T. Moens et M. Vincx, OBSERVATIONS ON THE FEEDING ECOLOGY OF ESTUARINE NEMATODES, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 77(1), 1997, pp. 211-227
Observations on living estuarine nematodes show that previous feeding
type classifications do not accurately represent the trophic structure
of an intertidal mudflat in the Westerschelde Estuary (Netherlands).
A new scheme with six major nematode feeding guilds is proposed: (1) m
icrovores; (2) ciliate feeders; and (3) deposit feeders sensu stricto
are all nematodes without a distinct buccal armature. In the first two
groups bacteria and protozoa, respectively are the major particulate
food sources, while other items are included in the diet of the third.
The three other categories are recognized among the nematodes with a
buccal armature: (4) epigrowth feeders; (5) facultative predators; and
(6) predators. Diatoms and other microalgae are an important particul
ate food for many epigrowth feeders. The importance of bacteria as a f
ood source for these nematodes remains poorly documented. A strictly o
r mainly predatory behaviour has been described for only few species f
rom the study area. Several nematodes, however, are facultative predat
ors. The predatory strategy of Calyptronema maxweberi, as described in
this paper, suggests the use of a paralysing or lethal secretion in p
rey capture, which, to our knowledge, is the first report for aquatic
nematodes. Furthermore, the importance of sources other than particula
te food in free-living aquatic nematodes is stressed. Our observations
show that many aquatic nematodes are in fact opportunistic feeders, w
hich may change feeding strategies in response to available food.