TROPHIC ECOLOGY OF FILTER FEEDERS UNDER OTHER FOOD PARTICLES DIFFERENT THAN PHYTOPLANKTON

TATIÁN, MARCOS; LAGGER, CRISTIAN; DEMARCHI, MILAGROS; LOPEZ GORDILLO, F.J.; QUARTINO M. L; SAHADE, RICARDO; SERVETTO, NATALIA; TORRE, LUCIANA; VARELA, MARÍA MERCEDES

Congreso; SCAR XXXI & Open Science Conference; 2010

-High AE estimated under provided diets stress the importance of kelp fragments as a food source for filter feeders in phytoplankton-impoverished systems as in Potter Cove. -Progressive increase of OM% in kelp fragments until 7 months of degradation and its diminution after 12 months and corresponding AE by ascidians could reflects bacterial processes through time in this material. -Low DR, MSDR and particle flux reflect low intake of kelp fragments: they could be rejected because its size or composition. - Value of aged kelp debris as trophic source by filter feeders and the quality of their produced feces, to infer its re-utilization by organisms of different trophic levels are still an open question. Also the influence of processes derived from climate change, as increasing of CO2 that should alters the chemical composition of the potential food for filter feeders. Analysis of bacterial community in diets and C and N composition (actually in process) both in diets and feces will reflect more accurately these important issues.