Trophic ecology and diet of Hydra vulgaris (Cnidaria; Hydrozoa)

DESERTI, M. I.; ESQUIUS, K. S.; ESCALANTE, A. H.; ACUÑA, F. H.

ANIMAL BIOLOGY

BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS

Lugar: Leiden; Año: 2017 vol. 67 p. 287 - 300

1570-7555

Hydra are common, sessile, solitary freshwater cnidarians, whichare defined as carnivorous and efficient predators. The purpose of this studywas to obtain information on the feeding habits and diet of Hydra vulgaris collected from thenatural habitat in Nahuel Rucá Lake (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Wefound three categories of food items in the coelenteron: algae, fungi, andsmall invertebrates. Algae dominated the diet in terms of abundance andfrequency of occurrence, but their volumetric contribution was almostnegligible, as was their possible nutritional value. Invertebrate prey captured,using active predation, represented the major volumetric contribution, withfour different taxa found. The finding of phytoplankton in the gastral cavitiesreveals the input of some organisms present in the surrounding waters inaddition to the invertebrates. This information is original, since studies onnatural diets of Hydra are veryscarce.