Interaction between Epistylis sp. and copepods in tropical lakes: responses of epibiont infestation to species host density |
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Institution: | Department of Biodiversity, Evolution and Environment. Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and Conservation. Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto. Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, 35400-000. Brazil |
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Abstract: | Interaction between Epistylis sp. and copepods was investigated in 3 tropical lakes. Epibiont load was higher in Thermocyclops minutus compared to Notodiaptomus ssp. at light compensation depth. No difference was found at surface. Infestation of Epistylis sp. seems to respond to copepod species densities. Attaching to more abundant copepods may increase encounter rates of epibionts with its hosts, raising biological efficiency of it even if attaching to smaller hosts when rare larger ones are present. |
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Keywords: | Epibiosis Zooplankton Interspecific interaction Brazil |
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