Egestion rates of the estuarine mysid Neomysis integer (Peracarida: Mysidacea) in relation to a variable environment
Roast, S.D.; Widdows, J.; Jones, M.B. (2000). Egestion rates of the estuarine mysid Neomysis integer (Peracarida: Mysidacea) in relation to a variable environment. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 245(1): 69-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(99)00152-5
In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Elsevier: New York. ISSN 0022-0981; e-ISSN 1879-1697, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Roast, S.D.
- Widdows, J., more
- Jones, M.B.
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| Abstract |
The hyperbenthic, estuarine mysid Neomysis integer (Crustacea: Mysidacea) is exposed to wide fluctuations of temperature and salinity on tidal and seasonal cycles. Using sieved sediment as an environmentally relevant food source and egestion rates as a measure of ingestion, the feeding rates of N. integer have been quantified at temperatures (5, 10 and 15°C) and salinities (1, 10, 20 and 30‰) experienced in the field. Egestion rates (0.017-0.049 mg faeces mg-¹ dry wt. mysid h-¹) increased with increasing temperature (Q10 values ranged from ≈ 1.9-2.4) and with increasing salinity. There was a significant interaction between temperature and salinity such that egestion rates were suppressed at high temperature (≥ 10°C) in combination with high salinity (30‰). Male egestion rates were not significantly different from those of females at any temperature/salinity combination. Absorption efficiency (≈ 0.35) was unaffected by temperature or salinity, confirming that egestion rates are representative of energy acquisition by N. integer. In the estuarine environment, mysid feeding rates are predicted to be low for much of the tidal cycle as the sites occupied by N. integer are dominated by low salinity, cold river water. |
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