Biol. Bull. Sign up for etocs!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Patterson, M. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Patterson, M. R.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 180, Issue 1 81-92, Copyright © 1991 by Marine Biological Laboratory

ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION

Passive Suspension Feeding by an Octocoral in Plankton Patches: Empirical Test of a Mathematical Model

M. R. Patterson
Division of Environmental Studies, University of California, Davis, California 95616

Feeding rate in the octocoral, Alcyonium siderium, was investigated as a function of colony size, flow speed, and prey concentration. The feeding rate decreases with time in high prey concentrations. A model of passive suspension feeding is formulated that successfully predicts feeding behavior. At low prey concentrations, the model predicts a linear feeding response as particle flux or colony size increases. The dominant constraint on feeding is the "handling time" required to transfer prey from tentacle to pharynx and to re-extend the tentacle. The time constant of prey capture shows no relation to particle flux, in agreement with the model. Another constraint, the "filtration time," is inversely related to colony size and flow speed. Filtration time becomes important only during feeding in sparse prey concentrations, when feeding rate is proportional to flow speed, colony size, and prey concentration. In the field, Alcyonium colonies reduce filtration time by orienting at right angles to the dominant flow direction. Feeding efficiency on prey patches is low and inversely related to flow speed, colony size, and prey concentration. Feeding in patches is not a simple process for this octocoral, because colonies will "saturate" with prey before all polyps have successfully captured a single prey item.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Integr. Comp. Biol.Home page
M. C. Pratt
Living where the flow is right: How flow affects feeding in bryozoans
Integr. Comp. Biol., June 21, 2008; (2008) icn052v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1991 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.