Feeding of Palaemonetes argentinus (Decapoda : Palaemonidae) from an oxbowlake of the Parana River, Argentina

Feeding habits and selectivity of Palaemonetes argentinus were studied by e xamining the stomach contents of specimens from an oxbow lake throughout a year. Palaemonetes argentinus is omnivorous, feeding mainly on members of l ittoral benthic communities. The bulk of the stomach contents comprised alg ae, plant remains, oligochaetes, dipteran larvae, and a variety of organism s ranging from Rotifera to Palaemonidae. Zooplankton (rotifers, copepods, a nd cladocerans) were an alternative food source in winter, at low water, wh en macrophyte abundance had declined. In general, Oligochaeta and dipteran larvae were positively selected, Rotifera and microcrustaceans negatively, and algae indifferently, but with some variations depending on the seasons.