Artemia parthenogenetica in Lake Hayward, Western Australia. II. Feeding biology in a shallow, seasonally stratified, hypersaline lake |
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Authors: | Alan Savage Brenton Knott |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, The University of Western Australia, 6907 Nedlands, Western Australia |
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Abstract: | Primary production in Lake Hayward, Western Australia, is dominated by benthic microbial communities, with limited planktonic
primary production. This study investigated the question of howArtemia, commonly regarded as simple, obligate, non-selective filter feeders, were able to survive in this system. Bacteria (heterotrophic
and autotrophic, filamentous and unicellular) were the major components in the diet of theArtemia in Lake Hayward. These bacteria were derived from bacterial aggregates in the water column and also from benthic mat material
(both still attached to the substrate and from pieces floating in the water column). Benthic diatoms were a substantial dietary
component of animals living in the unstratified shallow regions. Photosynthetic eukaryotic nanoplankton comprised a minor
component of the diet of thisArtemia population. Gut contents of a large number of animals and the results of a simple laboratory test indicated that these animals
utilise substrate-bound food resources. The results of the present study raises the question of the ecological significance
of surface grazing by brine shrimps in other shallow, benthos dominated saline systems. |
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Keywords: | Artemia bacteria benthic microbial communities ecology feeding biology grazing phytoplankton |
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