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Feeding, tube-building and particle-size selection in the terebellid polychaete Eupolymnia nebulosa

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Abstract

The present study was aimed at obtaining new information on the feeding biology of the terebellid polychaete Eupolymnia nebulosa (Montagu). Feeding, tube-building, particle-size selection, and tentacular morphology are described. Experiments were carried out during the fall of 1984 on specimens collected in the vicinity of Banyuls-surmer, France. Feeding activity takes place almost entirely in darkness, and E. nebulosa shows a marked preference for smaller particles when feeding and selects larger ones for tube-building. The control of its activity pattern by light intensity may result in seasonal modification of its energy balance. The mechanisms controlling particle-size selection in this species are discussed.

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Communicated by J.M. Pérès, Marseille

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Grémare, A. Feeding, tube-building and particle-size selection in the terebellid polychaete Eupolymnia nebulosa . Mar. Biol. 97, 243–252 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391309

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