Ref ID : 1816
Daniel J. Bevington, Christopher White, and Robert Lee Wallace; Predatory behavior of Cupelopagis vorax (Rotifera; Collothecacea; Atrochidae) on protozoan prey. Hydrobiologia 313/314:213-217, 1995
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By rotating on a short, flexible, pedal stalk, Cupelopagis vorax captures prey that traverse the substratum to which this sessile rotifer attaches. Microvideographic analysis (including slow motion and freeze-frame) permitted us to examine some of the details of Cupelopagis foraging behavior. When undisturbed, Cupelopagis usually faces forward in a resting or neutral position (NP) with its unciliated infundibulum (corona) directed parallel to the surface of the substratum. However, vibrations produced by artificial means (fine pins) or small prey (protists) evoke unique behaviors in Cupelopagis. Our analysis of Cupelopagis foraging on two protozoan prey (Paramecium bursaria and a small, unidentified flagellate, SUF) indicates that this predator possesses a 360 degrees encounter field (EF) biased towards the NP. Size of the EF appears to be a function of both predator and prey size, but it extends at least 650 µm, as measured from the point of attachment of the predator's pedal stalk to the substratum. When a prey comes close to Cupelopagis, this predator can lean toward the organism, stretching forward on its pedal stalk and extending its corona over the prey in a swift motion (<0.5 sec). Probability of capture after attack was a function of prey type (61.6% for P. bursaria and 41.5% for the SUF). Analysis of prey capture by Cupelopagis indicates that this predator has a handing time ranging from a few seconds to several minutes: 24.6+/-16.8 sec for P. bursaria (n=274) and 34.6+/-25.4 sec for the SUF (n=111). Occasionally Cupelopagis sweeps part of the EF by retracting its corona, turning to the right or left (mean angle subtended ~/~63 degrees +/-42 degrees), unfolding the corona, and slowly returning to the original resting position. This behavior, termed surveillance, occurs in the presence or absence of prey. While not unique in its ability to detect water movements, Cupelopagis is the only rotifer known to exhibit specific behaviors to vibrations produced by potential prey.