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Feeding ecology of the crab Cancer polyodon in La Herradura Bay, northern Chile. I. Feeding chronology, food intake, and gross growth and ecological efficiency

Abstract

Feeding activity pattern and food intake of the crab Cancer polyodon were determined from crab stomach samples taken at 3 to 4 h intervals on 2 days per season in 1988 and 1989. The gross growth efficiency (K1) and the ecological (= population production) efficiency (EE) were calculated in conjunction with growth and production data from a previous study. C. polyodon feeds at night and to a lesser extent during the day. Feeding chronology differed markedly among seasons: in winter, night feeding lasted about twice as long (13 to 15 h) as in spring, but maximum stomach fullness reached only 0.35 % BW (body weight) compared to 0.62 % BW in spring. Summer feeding resembled the spring pattern and autumn feeding the winter pattern. Daily food intake was estimated from the stomach content data and a laboratory-derived evacuation rate using the Elliott & Persson model. Daily rations increased from 2.8 (+/- 0.71) % BW in winter to 4.4 (+/- 0.64) % BW in summer and decreased to 2.7 (+/- 0.37) % BW in autumn (annual average: 3.19 % BW). K1 (weight gain as % of total food ingested) was lower for females (5.3) than for males (10.3), as females convert a high fraction of ingested food into egg production instead of growth. EE [(population biomass production)/(food ingested)] was estimated at 17.8 %.

Zitiere diese Aktivität

Wolff M. and Cerda G. (1992) Feeding ecology of the crab Cancer polyodon in La Herradura Bay, northern Chile. I. Feeding chronology, food intake, and gross growth and ecological efficiency. Marine Ecology Progress Series 89: 213-219. 10.3354/meps089213

Details

Datum 01.01.1992
Journal Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume 89
Seiten 213-219
Open Access Open Access (open)
Open Access Status Open Access (open)
Eprints_link https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/5946
Peer-Reviewed

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