Predation on and by pelagic Turbellaria in some lakes in Brazil

Matsumura‐Tundisi, Takako; Tundisi, José Galízia; Fonseca, Claudia Padovesi

doi:10.1007/978-94-009-2067-5_8

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…craci . Rocha et al [ 21 ] provided field data on predation rates of Mesostoma sp, later identified as M . craci (Noreña, personal communication).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Predation and reproductive performance in two pelagic typhloplanid turbellarians

2018

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We investigated feeding and reproductive performance of coexisting pelagic turbellarians from experiments on predation rates of Mesostoma ehrenbergii and M. craci as a function of food (Daphnia similis, three levels) and temperature (4 levels) during 10 days. Flatworms were collected from the pelagic of a subtropical lake in Brazil. Growth was more rapid at higher temperatures: more prey were consumed, and more eggs produced. M. craci and particularly M. ehrenbergii fitted a linear mixed-effects model and showed a type II functional response. M. craci was the more stenothermic of the two. Intrageneric predation also occurred: M. ehrenbergii fed on M. craci, but not vice versa. After a first clutch of subitaneous eggs, M. ehrenbergii produced resting eggs only. In M. craci an intermediate type of eggs hatched some time after release, survived passage through the gut of M. ehrenbergii, but did not resist drying. By primarily selecting cladoceran prey, M. ehrenbergii can make coexistence of both flatworms possible. As population density of M. ehrenbergii increases, it turns to producing resting and non-viable subitaneous eggs, thus limiting its population size. In nature, these processes structure the zooplankton community, while avoiding extinction of prey and predator.

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“…craci . Rocha et al [ 21 ] provided field data on predation rates of Mesostoma sp, later identified as M . craci (Noreña, personal communication).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite an interest in flatworm predation [ 17 – 19 ] their migratory behavior [ 20 , 21 ] and feeding strategies [ 22 , 23 ], aspects of their biology, such as predatory interactions among co-existing species [ 24 ] have not been well explored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation and reproductive performance in two pelagic typhloplanid turbellarians

2018

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Typhloplanid flatworms (Mesostoma and related genera): Mechanisms of predation and evidence that they structure aquatic invertebrate communities

Blaustein

Dumont

1990

Intrazooplankton Predation

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Typhloplanid flatworms (Mesostoma and related genera): Mechanisms of predation and evidence that they structure aquatic invertebrate communities

Blaustein

Dumont

1990

Hydrobiologia

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Mesostoma species and other typhloplanid flatworms are predators found in a wide variety of habitats . Laboratory observations of some Mesostoma spp found in shallow aquatic habitats (referred to as `littoral species') have revealed a wide variety of prey killing mechanisms : 1) mucus trapping, 2) sit-and-wait predation, 3) releasing a toxin into the water, and 4) active searching. We review the existing literature on these mechanisms . We also describe for the first time the predatory behavior of a pelagic Mesostoma sp . found in Brazilian lakes .The existing literature is also reviewed to assess the potential impact of Mesostoma species and related genera on the aquatic invertebrate community . Mesostoma has a high potential for population increase and has been found in high densities in some shallow aquatic habitats . Single prey experiments show that a number of Mesostoma species feed heavily on mosquito larvae, some chironomid larvae and some daphnids but considerably less on most copepods and ostracods . Prey preference experiments reflect the same trends . Hence, these predation studies suggest that the flatworms, at high densities, should reduce populations of certain prey speces and, consequently, alter community structure . Field studies support this prediction . Mesostoma species, at high densities, appear to be important predators of mosquito larvae in shallow aquatic habitats even under conditions where high densities of planktivorous fishes had little impact. They also appear to alter zooplankton community structure . However, much of the field evidence is correlational and not experimental . No studies have assessed the impact of pelagic typhloplanids on zooplankton community structure .It is concluded that many more manipulative field experiments are needed to assess the impact of typhloplanids on aquatic invertebrate communities .

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Predation on and by pelagic Turbellaria in some lakes in Brazil

Cited by 9 publications

References 9 publications

Predation and reproductive performance in two pelagic typhloplanid turbellarians

Predation and reproductive performance in two pelagic typhloplanid turbellarians

Typhloplanid flatworms (Mesostoma and related genera): Mechanisms of predation and evidence that they structure aquatic invertebrate communities

Typhloplanid flatworms (Mesostoma and related genera): Mechanisms of predation and evidence that they structure aquatic invertebrate communities

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