Direct examination of the dietary preference of the copepodcalanus helgolandicus using the colorimetric approach |
| |
Authors: | Hyung-Ku Kang Serge Poulet Se-Jong Ju |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Marine Environment Research Department, KORDI, Ansan, P.O. Box 29, 425-600 Seoul, Korea;(2) Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS, INSU, Université Paris VI, 29682 Roscoff, France;(3) Marine Resources Research Department, KORDI, Ansan, P.O. Box 29, 425-600 Seoul, Korea |
| |
Abstract: | The food selectivity of tethered females of the copepodCalanus helgolandicus was examined by using the colorimetric approach. First, feeding behavior of the copepod did not show any differences between the red-color stained with neutral red and non-stained diets using the diatomCoscinodiscus curvatulus. Then, the copepods were fed a mixtures of two diets, the diatomC. curvatulus, stained with neutral red, and the dinoflagellateGymnodinium sanguineum for 14~60 minutes of feeding duration. The foregut colors of females were examined using a stereo-microscope and a video monitor. The foreguts of animals fed with a high density of diatoms in mixed diets showed a dark red color, whereas those fed with a high density of dinoflagellate in mixed diets were a dark yellow. The results suggest that this species of copepod may not selectively feed either one of the diets used for this study. Their feeding activity may be more likely related to the density of available prey in their environment. Therefore, this quick and easy colorimetric approach could provide very useful information, like the pre-screening procedure before designing and conducting the time-consuming and complex feeding experiments to understand the feeding ecology of copepods. |
| |
Keywords: | food selectivity Calanus helgolandicus diatom neutral red dye foregut color |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|