Detecting food search in Daphnia in the field

Citation
Kh. Jensen et al., Detecting food search in Daphnia in the field, LIMN OCEAN, 46(5), 2001, pp. 1013-1020
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
ISSN journal
00243590 → ACNP
Volume
46
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
1013 - 1020
Database
ISI
SICI code
0024-3590(200107)46:5<1013:DFSIDI>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
From laboratory experiments, it has been suggested that visually guided fee ding, chemical and mechanical perception of increased ingestion rate (inclu ding perception of hunger and satiation), and odors associated with algae h elp Daphnia in tracking food gradients. To test the ability of Daphnia to f ind food in the field, suspended yeast, suspended clay. or control water wa s pumped into a localized point in the littoral zone of Lake Myravann (Berg en, Norway), Daphnia longispina and Daphnia pulex, the most numerous zoopla nkton species in the experimental area, aggregated in areas of yeast input but not when adding suspended clay or control water. Thus, Daphnia is able to evaluate the patches both quantitatively and quatitatively, possibly thr ough perception of increased ingestion rate and odor, while light scatterin g is indicated to be unimportant. This is the first experiment to demonstra te that Daphnia is able to find patches of food under natural conditions.