Food of the cladoceran Podon intermedius in a marine embayment

Abstract

Diet of the marine cladoceran Podon intermedius from Port Phillip Bay, Australia, was studied using feeding experiments and scanning electron microscopic examination of faecal pellets. The most common prey items identified in faecal pellets were large diatoms, mainly Rhizosolenia sp. Animal remains were not found in the faecal pellets. Phytoplankton of various sizes were offered to P. intermedius in feeding experiments, but significant feeding only occurred on Rhizosolenia P. intermedius is apparently a raptorially-feeding herbivore.