Abstract
Experiments were performed in 1977 to determine which large zooplankton in a series of high altitude ponds can be consumed by the predatory flatworm Mesostoma ehrenbergii. This predator consumes Daphnia at a high rate and the fairy shrimp Branchinecta at a low rate, but does not consume Diaptomus. Experiments were performed in 1978 and 1979 to determined the rate of predation on Daphnia in 30 liter tubs and to determine if predation rate is correlated with surface to volume ratio of experimental containers. There is a clear correlation between surface to volume ratio and predation rate. Determinations of Mesostoma and Daphnia densities were made in a series of eight high altitude ponds, and pond surface to volume ratios were determined. Examination of these parameters lends credence to the argument that Mesostoma predation affects Daphnia dynamics in some circumstances. The results suggest that benthic invertebrate predators may affect zooplankton dynamics, especially in shallow ponds.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bellamy, L. S. & Reynoldson, T. B. 1971. Intraspecific competition in lake-dwelling triclads in a laboratory study. Oikos 22: 315–328.
Brooks, J. L. 1968. The effects of prey size selection by lake planktivores. Syst. Zool. 17: 272–291.
Dodson, S. I. 1970. Complementary feeding niches sustained by size selective predation. Limnol. Oceanogr. 15: 131–137.
Dodson, S. I. 1972. Mortality in a population of Daphnia rosea. Ecology 53: 1011–1023.
Dodson, S. I. 1974. Zooplankton competition and predation: an experimental test of the size-efficiency hypothesis. Ecology 55: 605–613.
Edmondson, W. T. (ed.) 1959. Freshwater Biology. Second edition. Wiley. 1248 pp.
Galbraith, M. G. 1967. Size-selective predation on Daphnia by rainbow trout and yellow perch. Am. Fish. Soc. Trans. 96: 1–10.
Hall, D. J. 1964. An experimental approach to the dynamics of a natural population of Daphnia galeata mendotae. Ecology 45: 94–112.
Hall, D. J., Threlkeld, S. T., Burns, C. W. & Crowley, P. H. 1976. The size-efficiency hypothesis and the size structure of zooplankton communities. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 7: 177–208.
Hutchinson, G. E. 1967. A treatise on limnology II. Wiley. 1115 pp.
Jennings, J. B. 1957. Studies on feeding, digestion and food storage in free-living flatworms. Biol. Bull. 112: 63–80.
Jennings, J. B. 1974. Digestive physiology of the Turbellaria. pp. 173–197 in: Riser, N. W. & M. P. Morse (eds.) Biology of the Turbellaria. McGrow Hill. 530 pp.
Lehman, J. T. 1977. On calculating drag characteristics for decelerating zooplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22: 170–172.
Mack-Fira, V. 1974. The Turbellarian fauna of the Romanian littoral waters of the Black Sea. pp. 248–290 in: Riser, N. W. & M. P. Morse (eds) Biology of the Turbellaria. McGraw Hill. 530 pp.
Maly, E. J. 1976. Resource overlap between co-occurring copepods: effects of predation and environmental fluctuation. Canadian J. Zool. 54: 933–940.
Maly, E. J. 1978. Some factors influencing size of Diaptomus shoshone. Limnol. Oceanogr. 23: 835–837.
Mitchell, R. W. 1974. The cave-adapted flatworms of Texas; systematics, natural history, and responses to light and temperature. pp. 402–430 in: Riser, N. W. & M. P. Morse (eds.) Biology of the Turbellaria. McGraw Hill 530 pp.
Pennak, R. W. 1978. Fresh-water invertebrates of the United States. (Second editon) Wiley. 803 pp.
Pickavance, J. R. 1971. The diet of the immigrant planarian D. tigrina in the field. J. Anim. Ecol. 40: 637–650.
Reynoldson, T. B. 1974. Ecological separation of British triclads (Turbellaria) with a comment on two American species. pp. 213–228 in: Riser, N. W. & M. P. Morse (eds.) Biology of the Turbellaria. McGraw Hill. 530 pp.
Sprules, W. G. 1972. Effects of size-selective predation and food competition on high altitude zooplankton communities. Ecology 53: 375–386.
Young, J. O. 1970. British and Irish freshwater Microturbellaria: historical records, new records and a key for their identification. Arch. Hydrobiol. 72: 333–355.
Young, J. O. 1973. The occurrence of Microturbellaria in some British lakes of diverse chemical content. Arch. Hydrobiol. 75: 202–224.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maly, E.J., Schoenholtz, S. & Arts, M.T. The influence of flatworm predation on zooplankton inhabiting small ponds. Hydrobiologia 76, 233–240 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006214
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006214