Some aspects of the feeding biology of benthic herbivores

Summary The methods used in collection, preservation, and gut content and grazing analysis of benthic herbivores are reviewed. In addition, the results of experiments conducted on feeding periodicities and on the suitability for feeding studies of animals which were 1) collected with an electric shocker, 2) collected from the downstream drift of rivers and 3) killed with certain preservatives are presented. It is concluded that since most methods involve such a high degree of error, many of our concepts regarding the nutritional importance of different foods, selective feeding and the magnitude of herbivorous grazing may be largely misleading.