Potential predation pressure of littoral mysids on herring ( Clupea harengus membras L.) eggs and yolk-sac larvae
The predation potential of littoral mysid shrimps (Mysidacea) on Baltic herring ( Clupea harengus membras L.) eggs and yolk-sac larvae was studied experimentally. The results showed that littoral mysids feed actively on both eggs and yolk-sac larvae. It was shown that Neomysis integer preys on eggs,...
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Published in | Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology Vol. 367; no. 2; pp. 247 - 252 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Kidlington
Elsevier B.V
15.12.2008
Elsevier |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The predation potential of littoral mysid shrimps (Mysidacea) on Baltic herring (
Clupea harengus membras L.) eggs and yolk-sac larvae was studied experimentally. The results showed that littoral mysids feed actively on both eggs and yolk-sac larvae. It was shown that
Neomysis integer preys on eggs, which are not attached to the substrate. Alternative food (yolk-sac larvae or zooplankton) did not decrease feeding rate on eggs. Only gravel as a bottom material lowered the ingestion rate to nearly zero. The largest of the mysid species
Praunus flexuosus ate yolk-sac larvae more than other mysids and most efficiently. Mysids switched to feed on eggs when larvae and eggs were offered simultaneously, thus predation focused on eggs. It is possible that hydrodynamic signals of moving larvae induced mysids to prey and eggs were easier prey to catch as well as more numerous. In addition egg size is optimal and the nutritive value (measured as C:N ratio) is better compared with larvae. The results indicate that mysids may have local effects on populations of Baltic herring by eating the early life stages, mostly eggs. Especially when large swarms of
N. integer shoal in the spawning areas. However, the effect on recruitment of herring is still hard to evaluate. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0022-0981 1879-1697 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jembe.2008.10.007 |