Conducta alimentaria de Daphnia ambigua Scourfield 1947, Moina micrura Kurz 1874 y Ceriodaphnia dubia Richard 1895 (Cladocera) frente a un gradiente de concentración de alimento

Abstract

Because Cladocera is the most abundant group of filter-feeders in the freshwater zooplankton and their populations are usually found under limited resources conditions, the individual response under a resources concentration gradient has important consequences on the population and Community patterns. Feeding behavior of Moina micrura, Ceriodaphnia dubia and Daphnia ambigua (Cladocera)on the microalgae Chlorella sp, and Oocystis sp. (Chlorophyceae) was compared by using the following parameters: Maximum Ingestion Rate (I-max), incipient Limiting Concentration (ILC) and Consumption Efficiency (b), which were obtained through a model of functional response. Results indicated that D. ambigua showed the highest I-max, and ILC on both resources, however, this specie presented the lowest b. Whereas, D. ambigua did not show differences in b on Chlorella sp. or Oocystis sp., M micrura showed a higher b on Chlorella sp. and C. dubia on Oocystis sp, These results reveal significant interspecific differences in the feeding response of Cladocera, which showed a complex behavior exposed to variations in the availability of food resources