The swimming and feeding behavior of Mesocyclops

Abstract

The swimming and feeding behaviors of Mesocyclops are described from a review of the literature and personal observations . Mesocyclops exhibits considerable behavioral flexibility in response to environmental stimuli . Mesocyclops edax exhibits an increase in horizontal looping behavior at high prey densities, and performs a tight vertical looping behavior in response to the loss of captured prey . Ingestion rates by Mesocyclops are a complex function of prey density, morphology, and behavior in addition to prey size. Vertebrate predators induce a rapid escape response in Mesocyclops and may be responsible at least in part for their extensive diel vertical migrations . The complex behavioral patterns of Mesocyclops suggest that its distribution and abundance in nature will be distinctly nonrandom and influenced as much by its own behavioral responses as by other external physical factors such as water circulation patterns .

Indirect effect of environmental factors on interactions between microbial and classical food webs in freshwater ecosystems

“…Planktonic crustaceans can be protected against predation by water turbidity, for suspended particles severely disturb prey detection by fish due to their effects on light scattering (Horppila et al, 2004). Because water transparency is important in order for crustaceans to avoid predators, it has less importance for their foraging since cladocerans forage unselectively (Burns, 1968), and copepods use mechanoreceptors to detect their prey (Williamson, 1986) and chemoreceptors to capture the most nutritional particles (Paffenho¨fer and Van Sant, 1985). Insignificant differences in food web interactions were found between low and high transparency conditions.…”

Predatory interactions between Thermocyclops decipiens Kiefer (Cyclopoida : Copepoda) and two small cladocerans : behavior and prey post-encounter vulnerability

“…For C/A, it is clear that ability to swim faster, especially during escape situations, may be directly correlated to body size (Drenner et al 1978, Drenner & McComas 1980. It is also clear that mechanical disturbances produced by faster and larger bodies may be stronger, thereby allowing prey to be detected more precisely for mechanoreceptors of cyclopoid copepods (Williamson 1986). Consequently, cyclopoids would be able to optimize their attacks and increase the capture efficiency of larger individuals, as in the case of D. spinulosum.…”

“…In the absence of a specialized escape behavior, strength and shape of prey body may determine I/C by cyclopoid copepods feeding on different prey species (Williamson 1986, Roche 1987, 1990. While, C. cornuta has a rotund body and a thick cuticule (Matsumura-Tundisi et al 1990), Diaphanosoma species have a long cylindrical body and a soft carapace (Williamson 1983).…”

“…ter vulnerability (Li & Li 1979, Williamson 1986, Gliwicz & Umaña 1994, Chang & Hanazato 2003. According to Roche (1987), prey body size (volume) is inversely related to success of attacks of cyclopoids and a threshold exists above which prey capture becomes difficult.…”

“…According to Roche (1987), prey body size (volume) is inversely related to success of attacks of cyclopoids and a threshold exists above which prey capture becomes difficult. Speed swimming, escape responses and special behavior as such "dead man response" also decrease the efficiency of attacks of cyclopoids (Li & Li 1979, Williamson 1986). On the other hand, success of capture is affected by strength of carapace (Li & Li 1979, Jamieson 1980, Williamson 1983, Roche 1990).…”