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Grazing rates of a calanoid copepod (Paralabidocera antarctica) in a continental Antarctic lake

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posted on 2023-05-16, 12:04 authored by Kerrie SwadlingKerrie Swadling, Gibson, JAE
The presence of crustaceans in some Antarctic lakes adds a level of complexity to the food webs of these environments. The grazing pressure of the crustaceans on phytoplankton and other protists, and the role they play in controlling food web structure, has not yet been examined in any detail. This paper presents the first data on grazing pressure of crustacean zooplankton in continental Antarctic lakes. In this study the grazing rates of Paralabidocera antarctica in saline Ace Lake, Vestfold Hills, were assessed using a radio-tracer method. Clearance rates ranged from approximately 1 to 8 ml ind. -1 day -1 , depending on developmental stage. Due to their high abundance, nauplii exhibited the highest daily carbon ingestion rates. The population cleared about 3% of the water column per day, accounting for a significant fraction of primary production. P. antarctica has a considerable impact on the carbon cycle in Ace Lake and, by inference, in the other lakes in which it occurs.

History

Publication title

Polar Biology

Volume

23

Issue

5

Pagination

301-308

ISSN

0722-4060

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Springer-Verlag

Place of publication

Germany

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences

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