FEEDING BY ASELLOTE ISOPODS (CRUSTACEA) ON FORAMINIFERS (PROTOZOA) INTHE DEEP-SEA

Analysis of gut contents of two deep-sea asellote isopod species, Ilya rachna hirticeps and Eurycope inermis (Munnopsidae, Asellota, Isopoda, Crustacea), showed that they were preying on benthic foraminifers. Be nthic foraminifers with hard tests were more frequent in I. hirticeps guts than in E. inermis. I. hirticeps, having robust mandibles, is cap able of crushing large calcareous and agglutinating foraminifers with hard tests. The presence of foraminiferal fecal pellets (stercomata), along with fine mineral particles and globigerinacean tests in I. hirt iceps guts, shows that it was preying on the large, loosely agglutinat ing foraminifer, Oryctoderma sp. A. E. inermis swallowed whole, medium sized, calcareous foraminifers, which it apparently was unable to cru sh with its slender mandibles. The guts of E. inermis contained an abu ndance of mineral particles and globigerinacean tests. These are conje ctured to be mashed remains of certain agglutinating foraminifers with soft tests, rather than being evidence of detritivory. It is suggeste d that feeding on foraminifers by asellotes may be common and may sign ificantly affect the foraminiferal community.