Poovachiranon, Sombat, Boto, Kevin, and Duke, Norman (1984) Food preference studies and ingestion rate measurements of the mangrove amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis (Dana). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology, 98 (1-2). pp. 129-140.

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Abstract

Large populations, up to 7000 individuals. m-*, of the amphipod Parhyale hawaienir (Dana), not previously reported for Australia, were found in a mangrove forest near Cape Ferguson, northern Australia. The amphipod inhabits accumulations of decomposing Rhizophora stylosa Griff. detritus in the upper littoral zone. Laboratory studies, using measurements of faecal production as an index of feeding rate, showed that the amphipod could consume large quantities of decomposing R. stylosa leaves, with maximum faecal production in the order of 1700 mg.g amphipod-1.day-1 (dry weights), depending on favourable salinity and food source conditions. Feeding rates were not significantly different over the salinity range 15-35%, although significant decreases were noted at further extremes i.e. 10 and 40%,. Short-term (24 h) and long-term (8 wk) food preference and survival studies showed a highly significant increase in food preference with increasing degrees of leaf decomposition. Proximate chemical and physical analyses of different stages of decomposed leaf material showed strong, signilicant correlations between feeding (defaecation) rate and leaf nitrogen, starch (positive correlations), tannin, crude tibre and toughness (negative correlations). An estimated maximum rate of faecal production in the field of up to 10 g dry matter. rne2. day- ’ indicates that this amphipod may be an important component of the mangrove detritus-based food chain in the area studied.

Item ID:	48880
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	0022-0981
Keywords:	mangrove; plants; Rhizophora; leaves; litter; decomposition; fauna; isopods; North Queensland; Australia; IWP
Funders:	United Nations University (Tokyo) Fellowship
Date Deposited:	10 May 2017 01:33
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0608 Zoology > 060808 Invertebrate Biology @ 30% 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0501 Ecological Applications > 050102 Ecosystem Function @ 30% 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 40%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 30% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960503 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Environments @ 40% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9606 Environmental and Natural Resource Evaluation > 960603 Environmental Lifecycle Assessment @ 30%
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