Protozoa and diatoms as primary food sources for larvae of the blue spotted snapper Lutjanus rivulatus
2007
Nakagawa, Y.(Kinki Univ., Shirahama, Wakayama (Japan). Fisheries Lab.) | Senoo, S. | Miyashita, S.
Feeding selectivity of the blue spotted snapper Lutjanus rivulatus, fed natural plankton during the first feeding period (42 - 66 h after hatching) , was investigated. In the first experiment, L. rivulatus larvae selectively fed on micro-flagellates, micro-ciliates and diatoms, with the highest feeding rate on micro-ciliates. In the second experiment, L. rivulatus larvae selectively fed on nano-flagellates, micro- ciliates and diatoms. For fish larvae such as L. rivulatus, which can not feed on larger zooplankton such as rotifers, smaller plankton (e.g. diatoms, flagellates and ciliates) play an important role in their survival. The present study suggested that, during the first feeding period, L. rivulatus larvae utilize energy and nutrients from the microbial loop via nano-protozoa. This is the first report to discuss the relationship between fish larvae and the microbial loop.
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