Zooplankton feeding in the Westerschelde and the Gironde

Abstract

Feeding of E. affinis and A. tonsa on natural Westerschelde particulate matter was measured using a combination of methods: addition of C14 tracer food, gut fluorescence and counting by microscope. The results show that both E. affinis and A. tonsa select peaks of live phytoplankton cells when these occur. C14 measurements in the Gironde show that in this estuary, E. affinis, A. tonsa and T. longicornis also feed mainly on the dominant phytoplankton peak