Retention of ingested latex particles in Peyer's patches of germfree and conventional mice

Conventional and germfree mice ingested a suspension of 2-micron latex particles in drinking water for a 15-day period. Number and distribution of intestinal Peyer's patches did not differ significantly in the two types of mice. Cleared Peyer's patches were compared with regard to size and particle content. The location of particles within Peyer's patch follicles of germfree mice was similar to that of conventional mice, but the latter had significantly larger follicles and greater accumulations of latex particles. Latex concentration varied with patch location. Proximal patches contained the majority of particles in germfree mice, whereas particles were most abundant in distal patches of conventional mice. The results show that particle uptake into Peyer's patches takes place even in the complete absence of bacteria in the gut.     

The retention of particles intercepted by a dense aggregation of lake-outlet suspension feeders

A thin film of water flowed vertically over the wooden planks impounding a eutrophic lake in Kent, United Kingdom. Suspension-feeding larvae of the blackfly Simulium noelleri Friederichs formed a carpet-like, dense aggregation over these planks and fed on the suspended particles (seston) carried from the lake. Yellow, fluorescent dye particles were used to model the abundant seston and to produce easily-identifiable bands across the gut contents of larvae. No bands were found in larvae that had been feeding for 3 h after the initial application, so egestion of the bands will have been complete by this time. Nevertheless, dye particles were found in the gut contents of larvae after 3 h and 6 h of feeding on natural seston, though quantities were small (approximately 8% of the initial concentration after 3 h and 2% after 6 h). Retention of particles at this site was thus surprisingly low.     

Size selection of latex beads by blackfly larvae (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the laboratory

In laboratory experiments, blackfly larvae collected from a lake outlet, a woodland and a meadow stream were tested for size selection of latex beads of < Ito > 100 μm diameters. 3 suspensions of varying proportions for each size category were supplied to these blackfly larvae in common experiments. Comparisons between the size frequency distributions of particles supplied and the particle compositions in the larval guts showed intra- and interspecific differences and were quantified by calculating Jacobs' electivity index. In all species selection of larger particles increased with the larger larval instars. Although there was a positive selectivity of small particles in some cases, the ingested proportion of large particles increases volumes and biomasses of gut content and may be more important for larval growth than small particles.     

低等白蚁肠道共生微生物的多样性及其功能

低等白蚁肠道里存在着复杂的微生物区系,包括真核微生物鞭毛虫和原核生物,细菌及古细菌。低等白蚁的后肠以特别膨大的囊形胃及其氢氧浓度的明显梯度分布和丰富的微生物区系为特征,是白蚁进行木质纤维素消化的主要器官。后肠内的鞭毛虫能将纤维素水解并发酵为乙酸,二氧化碳和氢,为白蚁提供营养和能源。系统发育研究表明,低等白蚁肠道共生细菌的主要类群为白蚁菌群1、螺旋体、拟杆菌,低G C mol%含量的革兰氏阳性菌和紫细菌等。而古细菌主要为甲烷短杆菌属的产甲烷菌。共生原核生物与二氧化碳的还原和氮的循环等代谢有关。但肠道共生微生物的具体功能和作用机制还有待进一步的揭示。     

A choice chamber experiment on the selection of algae as food and substrata by Nais elinguis (Oligochaeta: Naididae)

SUMMARY.

• 1 A choice chamber experiment was performed in the laboratory to quantify the selection of benthic algae as food and substrata by Nais elinguis.
• 2 Most worms actively chose filamentous algae and/or diatoms as substrata whereas unicellular or colonial chiorophycean algae were discriminated against. Diatoms were selected in preference to latex beads but the worms could not discriminate between living filaments and nylon monofilaments. A thigmotactic response to filaments and a chemotactic response to diatoms may be implicated.
• 3 The worms ingested unicellular algae at a greater rate than colonial and filamentous algae. The rates at which the algae were ingested were negatively correlated with the lengths of the algae. A filament 200 μm long was the largest item ingested, representing about 63% of the length of the pharynx of the worm.
• 4 Ivlev's electlvity indices were positive when the rates at which the algae were ingested exceeded about 20 individuals h^-1. The index was negatively correlated with the lengths of the algae, but the time periods spent by the worms in association with the algae were unrelated to the electivity index.
• 5 The data confirmed previous observations on the selection of algae as food and substrata by Nais elinguis in a natural habitat.

     

Effect of seasonally changing feeding habits on whole-animal mercury concentrations in Hydropsyche morosa (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae)

Food habits, net-spinning activity, and whole-animal mercury concentrations in Hydropsyche morosa Hagan were examined monthly over a one year period on the South River, Virginia. Gut content analysis revealed seasonal patterns in the consumption of food that was correlated with net-spinning activity. Between April and October, when feeding nets were widespread, detritus represented between 72 and 94% of the total volume of food material found in the guts, while algae represented less than 18%. However, between November and March, when feeding nets were rare or absent, the relative contribution of each of the three food types (i.e., detritus, algae, and animal) changed significantly. Detritus declined to between 51 and 60%, and algae increased to between 39 and 47% of the total food volume. Whole-animal mercury concentrations ranged from 0.14 to 1.20 µg g^–1 and were significantly higher in the summer. Seasonal differences were not related to environmental mercury levels and only weakly related to body size. In contrast, whole-animal mercury levels were strongly related to seasonal changes in diet. In summer, when H. morosa larvae were filtering highly contaminated seston, whole-animal mercury levels were high. Conversely, in winter, when larvae were grazing less contaminated algae, whole-animal mercury levels were significantly lower. The primary component of seston was detritus (>81%) throughout the year. Therefore, the high mercury concentration in seston was probably associated with detritus. As a result, a significant relationship was observed between whole-animal mercury concentration and the relative amount of detritus consumed. These patterns indicate that in streams with highly productive hydropsychid populations, the rate of processing of mercury and other heavy metals may be related to seasonal changes in feeding behavior.     

The influence of prey hardness on Daphnia's selectivity for large prey

Two comparable methods were used to study the feeding of four species of Daphnia on large spherical particles which differed in size and hardness. The first method used gut analysis to estimate the selectivities of daphnids feeding in a broad size range of a single particle type, including polystyrene beads (4–60 µm diameter) in the laboratory and Eudorina colonies (10–90 µm) in the field. In the second method, Daphnia of different sizes fed in a mixture of 6.5 µm Chlamydomonas and one of eight test particles. Smaller daphnids were less effective in feeding on large test particles. Nonlinear regression was therefore used to estimate the Daphnia body size at which the clearance rate on a test particle was reduced to 50% of that for Chlamydomonas. The results of both methods show that prey size and hardness are both very important in determining daphnid feeding selectivity. For a given particle size, soft algae (naked and gelatinous flagellates) are more readily ingested than hard algae (diatoms and dinoflagellates), and hard algae are more readily ingested than polystyrene beads. Daphnia can feed effectively on algae that are 2–5 times larger than the largest ingestible bead.     

Herbivory in an acid stream

• 1 Spatial and temporal variation in the distribution and feeding of non‐predatory macroinvertebrates was investigated in a first‐order, acid stream in the Ashdown Forest, southern England.
• 2 Stonefly (Nemouridae) and chironomid (Orthocladiinae) larvae were abundant on the upper surfaces of mineral substrata of three sizes (small stones, large stones, bedrock). The density of larvae in each taxonomic group did not vary among substrata of different sizes, although strong seasonal variation existed.
• 3 Nemourids and chironomids (H. marcidus) collected from the upper surfaces of substrata exhibited generalist feeding habits, consuming algae (diatoms, coccoid and filamentous green algae), detritus (biofilm matrix material and fine particulate organic matter (FPOM)) and inorganic debris.
• 4 There was spatial variation in the gut contents of nemourids. The proportion of algae in the guts of larvae often increased with the size of the substratum from which they were collected. Strong temporal variation in the composition of the diet also existed. Nemourids ingested a large quantity of attached algae and biofilm matrix from the biofilm in spring and winter, but consumed loose FPOM and associated microflora in summer and autumn.
• 5 We conclude that, in this acid stream, the trophic linkage between algae and grazers is maintained by ‘detritivorous’ stonefly and chironomid species. The relationship between the feeding habits of these larvae and other life‐history attributes, such as mouthpart morphology and mobility, is discussed.

     

Cost of selective feeding by the blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus) as measured by respiration and ammonia excretion rates

The metabolic cost as measured by respiration and ammonia excretion rates associated with a selective as compared to a non-selective feeding behaviour was determined for the blue mussel, Mytilus trossulus. Mussels were challenged with four environmentally relevant seston matrices of different quality and quantity, which were known to evoke either a sorting response (i.e., selective feeding) where organic-rich particles were selected over inorganic particles as compared to no sorting (i.e., non-selective) where either inorganic or organic particles were ingested by the bivalve. Seston matrices were prepared by mixing known quantities of silt and algae such that the following extent of feeding responses would occur; no pre-sorting of ingested material, (1) no algae+50 mg silt l⁻¹, (2) 150×10⁶ cells l⁻¹ of algae+no silt, and, where pre-sorting of ingested material occurred, (3) 20×10⁶ cells l⁻¹ of algae and 20 mg l⁻¹ of silt, and (4) 150×10⁶ cells l⁻¹ of algae and 50 mg l ¹ of silt. A control, which represented basal metabolism consisting of mussels exposed only to filtered seawater (0.45 μm), was included for a total of five treatments. Mussel respiration and ammonia excretion rates were independent of whether mussels were pre-sorting or not sorting ingested material. Of the four matrices, only rates determined for conditions of maximum seston quality and quantity where pre-sorting of the seston occurred were significantly different from control mussels (p<0.05, ANOVA). Estimates of net energy used for feeding, where net energy is total energy intake (food) minus energy expenditure (energy lost through respiration and excreta as measured by ammonia excretion rates), indicated that feeding, whether selective or non-selective required only 0.92% of net energy intake. Hence, mussels appear to be highly adapted to a dynamic food environment with negligible costs associated with the feeding process, even when significant pre-selection of organic-rich particles occurs.     

Seasonal variation in diet of Chironomus plumosus (L.) and C. anthracinus Zett. (Diptera: Chironomidae) in mesotrophic Lake Erken

SUMMARY. 1. Microscopic gut content analysis of Chironomus plumosus (L.) and C. anthracinus Zett. collected from 18m depth in mesotrophic Lake Erken. revealed significant seasonal differences between the two species.
2. C. plumosus dietary constituents showed greater seasonal variation than those of C. anthracinus , with diatom contribution to the gut contents reflecting temporal changes in the phytoplankton.
3. Overall the percentage of gut content constituted by detritus, algae, animal remains, and inorganic matter averaged 96%, 4%, 0.4% and 0.03% for C. plurnosus and 97%, 3%, 0.6% and 0.03% for C. anthracinus .
4. Coefficients ot dietary overlap for non-detrital foods decreased markedly from August to September. During this period the proportion of centric diatoms in the guts of C. plumosus increased by 94% while no marked changes were noted in C. anthracinus .
5. C. ptttmosus ingested more diatoms than C. anthracinus , especially during diatom blooms in spring and autumn. These results are consistent with the known differences in feeding behaviour between these two speeies.     

Impact of seston characteristics on qualitative particle selection sites and efficiencies in the pseudolamellibranch bivalve Crassostrea gigas

To date, knowledge of the qualitative particle selection sites and conditions in the widely-distributed bivalve Crassostrea gigas is incomplete, having focussed either on heterogeneous particles, or on particles intentionally too large to enter the gill principal filament tracts. We used endoscope-directed sampling and the intact diatom-empty, cleaned frustule approach to unambiguously establish qualitative selection sites and the influence of seston quality (varying proportions of intact diatoms and empty, cleaned frustules) and quantity (particle loads) on the degree of qualitative selection. Normally-feeding oysters were presented test mixtures of the naturally-occurring Actinoptychus senarius (small enough to enter the gill principal filaments), and the potential selection sites (gill: dorsal and ventral collecting tracts; labial palps: anteriorly-deposited pseudofaeces), were sampled for comparison with the proportions and concentrations of the ambient medium. Qualitative selection was demonstrated at both the gills and labial palps. Gill selection efficiency was shown to be directly proportional to seston quality and quantity, using a technique independant of pseudofeces mucus content. The oyster gill is thus able to increase ingested food quality when environmental food quality is low and / or when seston concentrations are high, which is typical of oyster habitats. Palp selection efficiency was directly proportional to seston quality, but at the highest concentration tested, no qualitative selection was observed on the labial palps, probably due to overload on these smaller organs. The partial functional redundancy of these key processing organs in heterorhabdic species such as oysters and scallops may enhance their success in high-turbidity habitats.     

Gut contents of the ascidian Pyura praeputialis: endogenous and exogenous components

The gut material of Pyura praeputialis consists of two components: exogenous seston and endogenous mucus in which the seston particles are embedded. It has not heretofore been possible to separate these components; it follows that quantification of each component had not been possible.
A method is described for separating the endogenous and exogenous components. It allows an estimate of how much mucus is produced and what proportion is resorbed. It also allows an estimate of how much seston is ingested and what proportion is digested.     

The accumulation of 241Am by suspended matter of the Yenisei River

Laboratory experiments were performed to determine parameters of accumulation of 241Am by suspended particulate matter (seston) of the Yenisei River, with particles larger than 1 microm, and the diatoms A. formosa and D. vulgare. Concentration factors for seston were (2.8-4.1) x 10(5) and for diatoms--(1.5-4.2) x 10(4). As phytoplankton's contribution to the seston mass is rather small (< 10%), we assume that suspended matter contains other particles similar in size to the Yenisei River phytoplankton, which make larger contribution to 241Am concentration of seston than the studied algae. No energy-dependent accumulation of americium by algae was detected in the experiments. Addition of dissolved organics and hydrogen carbonates led to a lower uptake of 241Am from the Yenisei water by seston.     

The selection and ingestion of epilithic algae byNais elinguis (Oligochaeta: Naididae)

The gut contents ofNais elinguis in an organically polluted river were dominated by epilithic chlorophycean unicells and pennate diatoms with an average cell volume of 1.3 × 10³ µm³. The worm unselectively and opportunistically ingested unicellular algae up to a maximum length of 196 µm and a maximum volume of 24 × 10³ µm³, but colonial and filamentous algae were discriminated against. The morphometry of the pharynx ofN. elinguis probably determined the maximum size of algal cells which could be ingested.     

Getting the most out of waste: how dung beetles boost the nitrogen content in their food

The life cycle of almost all dung beetles revolve around mammalian dung, the feed on dung, look for mating partners on dung and lay eggs in the dung. We know they feed on dung, but we still do not understand how exactly they filter‐feed on the dung and which particles size range they are ingesting. The aim on this study was to investigate the filter feeding by particle selection by adult dung beetles using Scarabaeus goryi and how that improves the nutrient quality of the ingested particles. We compared the particle sizes and nutrient content of the dung with the ingested material in the foregut, hindgut and the faeces of the dung beetle. Adult dung beetles do select smaller dung particles when feeding, we found the maximum particle size for the ingested particle to be around 1400 μm. The average particle size increased through the gut length. Dung beetles also selected particles with higher nitrogen content when feeding, the nitrogen content increased from about 1.5% in the dung to just over 5% in the foregut which then decreased to the level of the unprocessed dung in the dung beetle faeces. Carbon content did not increase from the unprocessed dung to the foregut but decreased through the gut length. Feeding by particle size selection by dung beetles helps in selecting particles with higher nitrogen content to compensate for the low levels found in dung.     

Particle selection over a broad size range by crustacean zooplankton

1. Preferences for particles over a broad size range were assessed in four crustacean zooplankton species under field conditions. The particles employed were six spherical algae with diameters of 2, 6, 13, 19, 38 and 61 μm. 2. Diaphanosoma brachyurum and Daphnia cucullata preferred the two smallest particles, Chydorus sphaericus the three smallest and Eudiaptomus gracilis the 19 μm particle. 3. These size preferences agree well with earlier determinations based on seston particles in the same lake, indicating consistent size preferences by these species over a broad size range.     

Relative availability and utilization of algae in two subarctic rivers

The ash free dry weight of algae in the plankton, epilithon and gut of predominant herbivores was determined between June 1975 and July 1976 in 2 subarctic Canadian rivers (Baker Creek, Yellowknife River). Algae usually represented < 1% of suspended solids in both rivers and up to 8o% of material attached to rocks. While they were never found in the gut of rotifers and copepod nauplii in Baker Creek, they accounted for 0.5% of the contents of the planktonic conchostracon Lynceus brachyurus. Due to the inpalatable colonial structure of most attached algal species, the zoobenthos (mainly mayfly nymphs) contained only a few cells. Size selection against large fragments of detritus resulted in increased consumption of algae (5–13%) by Simulium venustum, S. decorum and S. arcticum. In the Yellowknife River, Diaptomus ashlandi (CIII–CVI stages) and Holopedium gibberum contained only a few (30–50) algal cells during summer. Because of size selection, large algae were not ingested by these species. The inpalatability of colonial algae greatly reduced consumption in the predominant zoobenthic species, Ephemerella coxalis and E. margarita. While all species digested diatoms, the Chlorophyta usually passed through the gut unharmed. It is concluded that algae are not an important energy source for invertebrates in either stream.     

Algal species composition and phosphorus recycling at contrasting grazing pressure: an experimental study in sub-Antarctic lakes with two trophic levels

1. To test the response of algal communities to altered grazer abundance in lakes lacking efficient predators on herbivores, we performed field and experimental studies in two sub-Antarctic lakes (South Georgia).
2. The number of algal species in these high latitude lakes is low, and all dominant species have grazer-resistant adaptations, including spines in three dimensions ( Staurastrum sp.), large size ( Tribonema sp.), a mucus sheet allowing viable passage through the gut ( Chlamydocapsa sp., Elakatothrix sp.) or ability to recruit individuals from the sediment surface ( Mallomonas sp.).
3. Algal community composition was only slightly changed by experimentally altered grazer abundance, indicating that it was already adapted for a high grazing pressure. Hence, the diets of herbivores were restricted to vulnerable food organisms such as Mallomonas sp. and heterotrophic flagellates in the water column, and to benthic food sources.
4. At high grazer abundance, the concentration of available phosphorus (PO₄-P) in the water was lower than at low grazer abundances, due to inefficient nutrient regeneration by the copepod herbivores. Hence, in lakes where copepods are dominant grazers, algae suffer both directly from grazing and indirectly from reduced nutrient availability.     

Algal species composition and phosphorus recycling at contrasting grazing pressure: an experimental study in sub-Antarctic lakes with two trophic levels

1. To test the response of algal communities to altered grazer abundance in lakes lacking efficient predators on herbivores, we performed field and experimental studies in two sub-Antarctic lakes (South Georgia).
2. The number of algal species in these high latitude lakes is low, and all dominant species have grazer-resistant adaptations, including spines in three dimensions ( Staurastrum sp.), large size ( Tribonema sp.), a mucus sheet allowing viable passage through the gut ( Chlamydocapsa sp., Elakatothrix sp.) or ability to recruit individuals from the sediment surface ( Mallomonas sp.).
3. Algal community composition was only slightly changed by experimentally altered grazer abundance, indicating that it was already adapted for a high grazing pressure. Hence, the diets of herbivores were restricted to vulnerable food organisms such as Mallomonas sp. and heterotrophic flagellates in the water column, and to benthic food sources.
4. At high grazer abundance, the concentration of available phosphorus (PO₄-P) in the water was lower than at low grazer abundances, due to inefficient nutrient regeneration by the copepod herbivores. Hence, in lakes where copepods are dominant grazers, algae suffer both directly from grazing and indirectly from reduced nutrient availability.     

Ingestion of live filamentous diatoms by the Great Lakes amphipod,Diporeia sp.: a case study of the limited value of gut contents analysis

Individuals of the Great Lakes amphipod, Diporeia sp. (formerly named Pontoporeia hoyi) were collected from a 45-m deep station in southeastern Lake Michigan and isolated in small laboratory feeding vessels at 4 °C, after the animals had voided their guts over a 24-hour period. Over a 20-day period, following introduction of a single ration of live cells of the filamentous diatom, Melosira varians, 9 of 10 animals had ingested this material, and 7 of these 9 individuals had deposited fecal pellets. Subsequent examination of gut contents and fecal pellets showed that although animals had ingested whole algal cells/filaments, little of the material in gut contents or fecal pellets bore any identifiable structural similarity to cells/filaments prior to ingestion. The results suggest that earlier studies of pontoporeiid gut contents may seriously underestimate the importance of algal components in the amphipod's diet and imply that Diporeia sp. growth and production may be more closely linked to primary production than previously thought.