Predation by copepods upon natural populations of Phaeocystis pouchetii as a function of the physiological state of the prey

Abstract

Diatoms were actively preyed upon in all experiments, with long-chain-forming species as the preferred food. Predation upon P. pouchetii colonies was dependent upon the physiological condition of the colonies. Healthy colonies were not consumed, while susceptible colonies were consumed at rates 2-10 times those for chain-forming diatoms. -from Authors