Ref ID : 1975
S.S.S. Sarma, S. Nandini, and Henri J. Dumont; Feeding preference and population growth of Asplanchna brightwelli (Rotifera) offered two non-evasive prey rotifers. Hydrobiologia 361:77-87, 1998
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Population growth rates of the predatory rotifers Asplanchna brightwelli were determined at 25 degrees C using a large (Brachionus calyciflorus) and a small (Anuraeopsis fissa) rotifer prey species in three concentrations (0.5, 0.1 and 2.0 µg dry weight ml-1) and in five combinations. The prey ingestion time by the predator was also measured. For B. calyciflorus the ingestion time (22.97-8.95 sec) was more than six times that of A. fissa (3.68+/-0.93). Regardless of prey type, the population growth of Asplanchna increased with increasing food density. There was a direct correlation between densities of amictic and mictic females. The maximum rate of population growth (1.01+/-0.10 day-1) was higher at high density of A. fissa prey than that at the same density of B. calyciflorus. Progressive increase of A. fissa density in the offered food combination resulted in a corresponding increase of the predator's number. Gut content analysis of A. brightwelli revealed that the number of prey ingested increased with increasing prey densities.