Ref ID : 1570
D.W. Bowker, M.T. Wareham, and M.A. Learner; The selection and ingestion of epilithic algae by Nais elinguis (Oligochaeta: Naididae). Hydrobiologia 98:171-178, 1983
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The gut contents of Nais elinguis in organically polluted river were dominated by epilithic chlorophycean unicells and pennate diatoms with an average cell volume of 1.3x10E3 µm3. The worm unselectively and opportunistically ingested unicellar algae up to a maximum length of 196 µm and a maximum volume of 24x10E3 µm3, but colonial and filamentous algae were discriminated against. The morphometry of the pharynx of N. elinguis probably determined the maximum size of algal cells which could be ingested.