Egg mortality through predation in egg-carrying zooplankters. Studies on Heterobranchus longifilis larvae fed on copepods, cladocerans and rotifers

Experiments conducted on the larvae of the catfish Heterobranchuslongifilis fed on several planktonic species showed that subitaneousegg viability was roughly conserved after larval gut passagefor copepods (Apocyclops panamensis), lowered for rotifers (Brachionuscalyciflorus and Epiphanes macrourus) and nil for cladocerans(Moina micrura and Diaphanosoma excisum). These results arediscussed mainly with regard to conditions and possible variationsand impact of the egg viability phenomenon.