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06:24
Individual Culturing of Tigriopus Copepods and Quantitative Analysis of Their Mate-guarding Behavior
Published on: September 26, 2018
The assimilation of elements ingested by marine copepods.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 15, 1991
Summary
Marine copepods efficiently assimilate elements from diatoms, with efficiency linked to cytoplasmic content. This suggests a digestive strategy optimized for soluble nutrients, impacting element cycling in oceans.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Oceanography
- Zooplankton nutrition
Background:
- Marine calanoid copepods are key zooplankton in oceanic food webs.
- Understanding element assimilation in copepods is crucial for marine biogeochemical cycles.
- Diatoms are a primary food source for many marine herbivores.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify assimilation efficiencies of various ingested elements in marine calanoid copepods.
- To investigate the relationship between diatom cellular composition and element assimilation.
- To understand the implications of copepod feeding strategies on element recycling in marine ecosystems.
Main Methods:
- Feeding marine calanoid copepods uniformly radiolabeled diatoms.
- Measuring assimilation efficiencies of elements (Ag, Am, C, Cd, P, S, Se, Zn).
- Correlating assimilation efficiencies with diatom cytoplasmic content and culture age.
Main Results:
- Assimilation efficiencies varied widely, from 0.9% (Am) to 97.1% (Se).
- Higher assimilation efficiencies correlated with greater cytoplasmic content in diatoms.
- Zooplankton assimilated soluble elements more efficiently, indicating a digestive strategy for soluble materials.
Conclusions:
- Marine copepods possess a digestive strategy favoring soluble elements, primarily from diatom cytoplasm.
- Element assimilation by copepods is influenced by diatom cell age and composition.
- Efficient assimilation of cytoplasm-bound elements contributes to their recycling in surface waters.
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