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Article: Feeding preferences of the herbivorous crab Grapsus albolineatus: The differential influence of algal nutrient content and morphology

TitleFeeding preferences of the herbivorous crab Grapsus albolineatus: The differential influence of algal nutrient content and morphology
Authors
KeywordsAlgal morphology
Consumption rate
Crab
Diet
Herbivore
Nutrients
Protein
Tropical rocky shore
Issue Date1997
PublisherInter-Research. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/index.html
Citation
Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1997, v. 147 n. 1-3, p. 87-95 How to Cite?
AbstractThe tropical rocky shore crab Grapsus albolineatus selectively consumes rare filamentous algae over more abundant foliose algae during the winter in Hong Kong. Laboratory experiments have shown that growth of G. albolineatus is enhanced and mortality reduced when given a diet of filamentous algae as opposed to foliose algae. In the laboratory, G. albolineatus consumed filamentous algae (Enteromorpha clathrata, Hincksia mitchelliae and Chaetomorpha antennina) in greater amounts than any foliose algae (Dermonema frappieri, Pterocladia tenuis, Porphyra suborbiculata, Ulva fasciata, Endarachne binghamiae) in both multiple choice and no choice experiments. The most energy-rich alga was Pterocladia, while Porphyra had the highest protein content. Filamentous algae had lower overall nutrient contents than foliose algae. Consumption rates for Enteromorpha and Hincksia were, however, sufficiently higher than for Porphyra, which ensured that the net intake of nutrients per day was greater. Even though protein assimilation efficiency was higher for Porphyra than Hincksia, G. albolineatus assimilated more protein, per day, from Hincksia. When the confounding effects of morphology and nutrient value were separated, by offering the crab choices of commercially available algae (Laminaria sp.) cut into different forms (foliose and filamentous), G. albolineatus showed a strong preference for the filamentous form, despite both forms having the same nutrient value Preference for filamentous forms is likely to be constrained by the morphology of the chelae, which have delicate tips, and appear unable to tear foliose algae Algal morphology, therefore, appears to be of prime importance and the nutrient content and digestibility of algae of secondary importance in determining the feeding preferences of G. albolineatus. The high consumption rate of filamentous algae outweighs their relative nutrient deficiencies, indicating that they are better suited to meeting the physiological needs of the crab than foliose algae.
Persistent Identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/57250
ISSN
2023 Impact Factor: 2.2
2023 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.802
ISI Accession Number ID
References

 

DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorKennish, Ren_HK
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, GAen_HK
dc.date.accessioned2010-04-12T01:30:54Z-
dc.date.available2010-04-12T01:30:54Z-
dc.date.issued1997en_HK
dc.identifier.citationMarine Ecology Progress Series, 1997, v. 147 n. 1-3, p. 87-95en_HK
dc.identifier.issn0171-8630en_HK
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/57250-
dc.description.abstractThe tropical rocky shore crab Grapsus albolineatus selectively consumes rare filamentous algae over more abundant foliose algae during the winter in Hong Kong. Laboratory experiments have shown that growth of G. albolineatus is enhanced and mortality reduced when given a diet of filamentous algae as opposed to foliose algae. In the laboratory, G. albolineatus consumed filamentous algae (Enteromorpha clathrata, Hincksia mitchelliae and Chaetomorpha antennina) in greater amounts than any foliose algae (Dermonema frappieri, Pterocladia tenuis, Porphyra suborbiculata, Ulva fasciata, Endarachne binghamiae) in both multiple choice and no choice experiments. The most energy-rich alga was Pterocladia, while Porphyra had the highest protein content. Filamentous algae had lower overall nutrient contents than foliose algae. Consumption rates for Enteromorpha and Hincksia were, however, sufficiently higher than for Porphyra, which ensured that the net intake of nutrients per day was greater. Even though protein assimilation efficiency was higher for Porphyra than Hincksia, G. albolineatus assimilated more protein, per day, from Hincksia. When the confounding effects of morphology and nutrient value were separated, by offering the crab choices of commercially available algae (Laminaria sp.) cut into different forms (foliose and filamentous), G. albolineatus showed a strong preference for the filamentous form, despite both forms having the same nutrient value Preference for filamentous forms is likely to be constrained by the morphology of the chelae, which have delicate tips, and appear unable to tear foliose algae Algal morphology, therefore, appears to be of prime importance and the nutrient content and digestibility of algae of secondary importance in determining the feeding preferences of G. albolineatus. The high consumption rate of filamentous algae outweighs their relative nutrient deficiencies, indicating that they are better suited to meeting the physiological needs of the crab than foliose algae.en_HK
dc.languageengen_HK
dc.publisherInter-Research. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/index.htmlen_HK
dc.relation.ispartofMarine Ecology Progress Seriesen_HK
dc.rightsMarine Ecology - Progress Series. Copyright © Inter-Research.en_HK
dc.subjectAlgal morphologyen_HK
dc.subjectConsumption rateen_HK
dc.subjectCraben_HK
dc.subjectDieten_HK
dc.subjectHerbivoreen_HK
dc.subjectNutrientsen_HK
dc.subjectProteinen_HK
dc.subjectTropical rocky shoreen_HK
dc.titleFeeding preferences of the herbivorous crab Grapsus albolineatus: The differential influence of algal nutrient content and morphologyen_HK
dc.typeArticleen_HK
dc.identifier.openurlhttp://library.hku.hk:4550/resserv?sid=HKU:IR&issn=0171-8630&volume=147&spage=87&epage=95&date=1997&atitle=Feeding+preferences+of+the+herbivorous+crab+Grapsus+albolineatus:+the+differential+influence+of+algal+nutrient+content+and+morphologyen_HK
dc.identifier.emailWilliams, GA: hrsbwga@hkucc.hku.hken_HK
dc.identifier.authorityWilliams, GA=rp00804en_HK
dc.description.naturepublished_or_final_versionen_HK
dc.identifier.doi10.3354/meps147087en_HK
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-0030620855en_HK
dc.identifier.hkuros22399-
dc.relation.referenceshttp://www.scopus.com/mlt/select.url?eid=2-s2.0-0030620855&selection=ref&src=s&origin=recordpageen_HK
dc.identifier.volume147en_HK
dc.identifier.issue1-3en_HK
dc.identifier.spage87en_HK
dc.identifier.epage95en_HK
dc.identifier.isiWOS:A1997WP96900008-
dc.publisher.placeGermanyen_HK
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridKennish, R=6603569636en_HK
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridWilliams, GA=7406082821en_HK
dc.identifier.issnl0171-8630-

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