Abstract
Grazing experiments were performed with the zooplankters Daphnia pulex and Daphnia magna, feeding on phosphorus-saturated and phosphorus-limited cells of two green algae (Scenedesmus subspicatus and Selenastrum capricornutum). P-limited algal cells passed largely intact through the gut and were thus spared from heavy grazing pressure. P-saturated algal cells, in contrast, were efficiently assimilated. Structural and morphological changes in the P-limited cells most probably reduced their digestibility. This phenomenon may be an important factor in zooplankton production and competition, and may serve as an example of a highly efficient strategy of P-limited algae to resist heavy grazing pressure.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahlgren G, Lundstedt L, Brett M, Forsberg C (1990) Lipid composition and food quality of some freshwater phytoplankton for cladoceran zooplankters. J Plankton Res 12:809–818
Arnold DE (1971) Ingestion, assimilation, survival, and reproduction by Daphnia pulex fed seven species of blue-green algae. Limnol Oceanogr 16:906–920
DeMott WR (1986) The role of taste in food selection by freshwater zooplankton. Oecologia 69:334–340
Hessen DO (1985) Filtering structures and particle size selection in coexisting Cladocera. Oecologia 66:368–372
Hessen DO (1990) Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus status in Daphnia at varying food conditions. J Plankton Res 12:1239–1249
Hessen DO (1992) Nutrient element limitation of zooplankton production. Am Nat 140:799–814
Hessen DO, Andersen T (1992) The algae-grazer interface: feed-back mechanisms linked to elemental ratios and nutrient cycling. Arch Hydrobiol Beih 35:111–120
Lampert W (1982) Further studies on the inhibitory effect of the toxic blue-green Microcystic aeruginosa on the filtering rate of zooplankton. Arch Hydrobiol 95:207–220
Lampert W (1987) Feeding and nutrition in Daphnia. Mem Istit Ital Idrobiol 45:143–192
Lehman JT, Naumoski T (1985) Content and turnover rates of phosphorus in Daphnia pulex: Effect of food quality. Hydrobiologia 128:119–125
Myklestad S (1977) Production of carbohydrates by marine planktonic diatoms. II Influence of the N/P ratio in the growth medium on the assimilation ratio, growth rate, and production of cellular and extracellular carbohydrates by Chaetoceros affinis var. willei (Gran) Hustedt and Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve. J Exp Mar Biol. Ecol. 29:161–179
Porter KG (1973) Selective grazing and differential digestion of algae by zooplankton. Nature 244:179–180
Porter KG (1975) Viable gut passage of gelatinous green algae ingested by Daphnia. Verh Intern Verein Limnol 19:2840–2850
Skulberg OM, Skulberg R (1990) Research with algal cultures-NIVA's culture collection of algae. NIVA Report ISBN 82-551743-6
Sødergaard M, Schierup HH (1982) Release of extracellular organic carbon during a diatom bloom in Lake Mossø: molecular weight fractionation. Freshwater Biol 12:313–320
Sterner RW, Smith RF (1992) Possibility of N or P limitation for planktonic cladocerans: An experimental test. Limnol Oceanogr 37:244–251
Urabe J, Watanabe Y (1992) Clearance, ingestion and release of N and P by Daphnia pulex feeding on Scenedesmus acutus of varying quality. Bull Mar Sci (in press)
Watanabe Y (1990) C:N:P ratios of size-fractionated seston and planktonic organisms in various trophic levels. Verh Intern Verein Limnol 24:195–199
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Donk, E., Hessen, D.O. Grazing resistance in nutrient-stressed phytoplankton. Oecologia 93, 508–511 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328958
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328958