Factors affecting zooplankton feeding by the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida

Abstract

Effects of various treatments on prey capture, prey ingestion and ingestion time of individual Artemia salina nauplii by the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida Verrill were studied in the laboratory. Exposure to crude Artemia homogenate, 5 × 10-4 M reduced glutathione or 5 × 10-4 M proline significantly decreased the number of Artemia that were captured and ingested but had no significant effect on the ingestion time of individual Artemia. Multiple captures increased the total ingestion time but decreased ingestion time per prey item. Results suggest that, under these conditions, the prey capture phase of zooplankton feeding was somewhat distinct from the ingestion phase since chemical stimuli that significantly reduced prey capture had no significant effect on ingestion time. © 1986 Biologische Anstalt Helgoland.