Abstract
Ingestion rates and selectivity of the Arctic pelagic amphipod Themisto libellula were studied experimentally in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, 78°N) during the summer period. Feeding incubations were conducted on naturally occurring copepod communities at different concentrations ranging from 25 to 250 preys L−1. The ingestion rates increased with food availability from 1.3 to 17.7 preys ind−1 day−1, which corresponded to 0.3–11% of body carbon day−1. Despite the high prey concentration used in the experiments the satiation level was not reached. We suggested that T. libellula is able to take the maximum benefit from dense patches of preys, which represent a good adaptation to the high variability in food supply characteristic of polar environment. Copepodids stage III of Calanus spp. appeared to be the preferred preys of T. libellula. Smaller copepods such as Oithona similis and Pseudocalanus spp., were also selected but only when their relative abundance exceeded 25% of the total prey available. The potential predation impact of T. libellula is discussed in relation to the mesozooplankton small-scale patchiness and predator abundance.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aarset AV, Aunaas T (1990) Metabolic responses of the sympagic amphipods Gammarus wilkitzkii and Onisimus glacialis to acute temperature variations. Mar Biol (Berl) 107:433–438. doi:10.1007/BF01313425
Atkinson A, Snÿder R (1997) Krill-copepod interactions at South Georgia, Antarctica, I. Omnivory by Euphausia superba. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 160:63–76. doi:10.3354/meps160063
Auel H, Werner I (2003) Feeding, respiration and life history of the hyperiid amphipod Themisto libellula in the Arctic marginal ice zone of the Greenland Sea. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 296:183–197. doi:10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00321-6
Auel H, Harjes M, da Rocha R, Stübing D, Hagen W (2002) Lipid biomarkers indicate different ecological niches and trophic relationships of the Arctic hyperiid amphipods Themisto abyssorum and T. libellula. Polar Biol 25:374–383
Båmstedt U, Gifford DJ, Irigoien X, Atkinson A, Roman M (2000) Feeding. In: Harris R, Wiebe P, Lenz J, Skjoldal HR, Huntley ME (eds) Zooplankton methodology manual. Academic Press, London, pp 297–399
Basedow SL, Eiane K, Tverberg V, Spindler M (2004) Advection of zooplankton in an Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard). Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 60:113–124. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2003.12.004
Bowman TE (1960) The pelagic amphipod genus Parathemisto (Hyperiidea: Hyperiidae) in the North Pacific and adjacent Arctic Ocean. Proc US Natl Mus 112:343–392
Chesson J (1978) Measuring preference in selective predation. Ecology 59:211–215. doi:10.2307/1936364
Conover RJ, Huntley M (1991) Copepods in ice-covered seas—distribution, adaptations to seasonally limited food, metabolism, growth patterns and life cycle strategies in polar seas. J Mar Syst 2:1–41. doi:10.1016/0924-7963(91)90011-I
Daase M, Eiane K (2007) Mesozooplankton distribution in northern Svalbard waters in relation to hydrography. Polar Biol 30:969–981. doi:10.1007/s00300-007-0255-5
Dale K, Falk-Petersen S, Hop H, Fevolden SE (2006) Population dynamics and body composition of the Arctic hyperiid amphipod Themisto libellula in Svalbard fjords. Polar Biol 29:1063–1070. doi:10.1007/s00300-006-0150-5
Dalpadado P (2002) Inter-specific variations in distribution, abundance and possible life-cycle patterns of Themisto spp. (Amphipoda) in the Barents Sea. Polar Biol 25:656–666
Dalpadado P, Borkner N, Bogstad B, Mehl S (2001) Distribution of Themisto spp. (Amphipoda) in the Barents Sea and predator-prey interactions. ICES J Mar Sci 58:876–895. doi:10.1006/jmsc.2001.1078
Dalpadado P, Yamaguchi A, Ellertsen B, Johannessen S (2008) Trophic interactions of macro-zooplankton (krill and amphipods) in the Marginal Ice Zone of the Barents Sea. Deep Sea Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr 55:2266–2274. doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.05.016
Davis CS, Flierl GR, Wiebe PH, Franks PJS (1991) Micropatchiness, turbulence and recruitment in plankton. J Mar Res 49:109–151. doi:10.1357/002224091784968602
Davis CS, Gallager SM, Solow AR (1992) Microaggregations of oceanic plankton observed by towed video microscopy. Science 257:230–232. doi:10.1126/science.257.5067.230
Dunbar MJ (1946) On Themisto libellula in Baffin Island Coastal waters. J Fish Res Board Can 6:419–434
Dunbar MJ (1957) The determinants of production in the northern seas: a study of the biology of Themisto libellula (Mandt). Can J Zool 35:797–819. doi:10.1139/z57-067
Eiane K, Daase M (2002) Observations of mass mortality of Themisto libellula (Amphipoda, Hyperidae). Polar Biol 25:396–398
Falk-Petersen S, Sargent JR, Tande KS (1987) Lipid composition of zooplankton in relation to the sub-arctic food web. Polar Biol 8:115–120. doi:10.1007/BF00297065
Falk-Petersen S, Hopkins CCE, Sargent JR (1990) Trophic relationships in the pelagic Arctic food web. In: Barnes M, Gibson RN (eds) Trophic relationships in the marine environment. Proceedings of 24th European Marine Biology Symposium. Aberdeen University Press, Aberdeen, pp 315–333
Falk-Petersen S, Haug T, Nilssen KT, Wold A, Dahl TM (2004) Lipids and trophic linkages in harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) from the eastern Barents Sea. Polar Res 23:43–50. doi:10.1111/j.1751-8369.2004.tb00128.x
Falk-Petersen S, Mayzaud P, Kattner G, Sargent JR (2009) Lipids and life strategy of Arctic Calanus, a review. Mar Biol Res 5:18–39. doi:10.1080/17451000802512267
Froneman PW, Pakhomov EA, Treasure A (2000) Trophic importance of the hyperiid amphipod, Themisto gaudichaudii, in the Prince Edward Archipelago (Southern Ocean) ecosystem. Polar Biol 23:429–436. doi:10.1007/s003000050464
Hagen W, Auel H (2001) Seasonal adaptations and the role of lipids in oceanic zooplankton. Zoology 104:313–326. doi:10.1078/0944-2006-00037
Haug T, Nilssen KT, Lindblom L (2004) Feeding habits of harp and hooded seals in drift ice waters along the east coast of Greenland in summer and winter. Polar Res 23:35–42. doi:10.1111/j.1751-8369.2004.tb00127.x
Hirche HJ, Mumm N (1992) Distribution of dominant copepods in the Nansen Basin, Arctic Ocean, in summer. Deep Sea Res 39:485–505. doi:10.1016/S0198-0149(06)80017-8
Holling CS (1959a) The components of predation as revealed by a study of small-mammal predation of the European pine sawfly. Can Entomol 91:293–320
Holling CS (1959b) Some characteristics of simple types of predation and parasitism. Can Entomol 91:385–398
Huntley M (1988) Feeding biology of Calanus: a new perspective. Hydrobiologia 167/168:83–99. doi:10.1007/BF00026296
Ikeda T, Skjoldal HR (1989) Metabolism and elemental composition of zooplankton from the Barents Sea during early Arctic summer. Mar Biol (Berl) 100:173–183. doi:10.1007/BF00391956
Kane JE (1963) Observations on the moulting and feeding of a hyperiid amphipod. Crustaceana 6:129–132. doi:10.1163/156854063X00516
Klein Breteler WCM, Fransz HG, Gonzales SR (1982) Growth and development of four calanoid copepod species under experimental and natural conditions. Neth J Sea Res 16:195–207. doi:10.1016/0077-7579(82)90030-8
Kwasniewski S, Hop H, Falk-Petersen S, Pedersen G (2003) Distribution of Calanus species in Kongsfjorden, a glacial fjord in Svalbard. J Plankton Res 25:1–20. doi:10.1093/plankt/25.1.1
Lee RF, Hagen W, Kattner G (2006) Lipid storage in marine zooplankton. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 307:273–306. doi:10.3354/meps307273
Lehman JT (1976) Filter-feeder as an optimal forager, and predicted shapes of feeding curves. Limnol Oceanogr 21:501–516
Lischka S, Hagen W (2007) Seasonal lipid dynamics of the copepods Pseudocalanus minutus (Calanoida) and Oithona similis (Cycloploida) in the Arctic Kongsfjorden (Svalbard). Mar Biol (Berl) 150:443–454. doi:10.1007/s00227-006-0359-4
Lønne OJ, Gabrielsen GW (1992) Summer diet of seabirds feeding in sea-ice-covered waters near Svalbard. Polar Biol 12:685–692. doi:10.1007/BF00238868
Marion A, Harvey M, Chabot D, Brêthes J-C (2008) Feeding ecology and predation impact of the recently established amphipod, Themisto libellula, in the St. Lawrence marine system, Canada. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 373:53–70. doi:10.3354/meps07716
Mauchline J (1998) The biology of calanoid copepods. Academic Press, San Diego
Moloney CL, Field JG (1989) General allometric equations for rates of nutrient uptake, ingestion, and respiration in plankton organisms. Limnol Oceanogr 34:1290–1299
Nilssen KT, Haug T, Potelov V, Timoshenko YK (1995) Feeding habits of harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) during early summer and autumn in the northern Barents Sea. Polar Biol 15:485–493. doi:10.1007/BF00237462
Omori M, Hamner WM (1982) Patchy distribution of zooplankton: behaviour, population assessment and sampling problems. Mar Biol (Berl) 72:193–200. doi:10.1007/BF00396920
Pakhomov EA, Perissinotto R (1996) Trophodynamics of the hyperiid amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii in the South Georgia region during late austral summer. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 134:91–100. doi:10.3354/meps134091
Pastorok RA (1981) Prey vulnerability and size selection by Chaoborus larvae. Ecology 62:1311–1324. doi:10.2307/1937295
Percy JA (1993) Energy consumption and metabolism during starvation in the Arctic hyperiid amphipod Themisto libellula Mandt. Polar Biol 13:549–555
Sabatini M, Kiørboe T (1994) Egg production, growth and development of the cyclopoid copepod Oithona similis. J Plankton Res 16:1329–1351. doi:10.1093/plankt/16.10.1329
Saito H, Kioerboe T (2001) Feeding rates in the chaetognath Sagitta elegans: effects of prey size, prey swimming behaviour and small-scale turbulence. J Plankton Res 23:1385–1398. doi:10.1093/plankt/23.12.1385
Scherrer B (1984) Biostatistiques. Gaëtan morin, Montréal
Scott CL, Falk-Petersen S, Sargent JR, Hop H, Lønne OJ, Poltermann M (1999) Lipids and trophic interactions of ice fauna and pelagic zooplankton in the marginal ice zone of the Barents Sea. Polar Biol 21:65–70. doi:10.1007/s003000050335
Sheader M, Evans F (1975) Feeding and gut structure of Parathemisto gaudichaudi (Guerin) (Amphipoda, hyperiidea). J Mar Biol Assoc UK 55:641–656. doi:10.1017/S0025315400017306
Søreide JE, Hop H, Carroll ML, Falk-Petersen S, Hegseth EN (2006) Seasonal food web structures and sympagic–pelagic coupling in the European Arctic revealed by stable isotopes and a two-source food web model. Prog Oceanogr 71:59–87. doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2006.06.001
Tamelander T, Renaud PE, Hop H, Carroll ML, Ambrose WG Jr, Hobson KA (2006) Trophic relationships and pelagic-benthic coupling during summer in the Barents Sea Marginal Ice Zone, revealed by stable carbon and nitrogen isotope measurements. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 310:33–46. doi:10.3354/meps310033
Viitasalo M, Rautio M (1998) Zooplanktivory by Praunus flexuosus (Crustacea: Mysidacea): functional responses and prey selection in relation to prey escape responses. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 174:77–87. doi:10.3354/meps174077
Vinogradov GM (1999) Deep-sea near-bottom swarms of pelagic amphipods Themisto: observations from submersibles. Sarsia 84:465–467
Walkusz W, Storemark K, Skau T, Gannefors C, Lundberg M (2003) Zooplankton community structure; a comparison of fjords, open water and ice stations in the Svalbard area. Pol Polar Res 24:149–165
Werner I, Auel H, Friedrich C (2002) Carnivorous feeding and respiration of the Arctic under-ice amphipod Gammarus wilkitzkii. Polar Biol 25:523–530. doi:10.1007/s00300-002-0376-9
Weslawski JM, Ryg M, Smith TG, Oritsland NA (1994) Diet of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in a fjord of west Svalbard. Arctic 47:109–114
Yamashita Y, Kitagawa D, Aoyama T (1984) Laboratory studies of predation by the hyperiid amphipod Parathemisto japonica on larvae of the Japanese sand-eel Ammodytes personatus. Bull Jpn Soc Sci Fish 50:1089–1093
Acknowledgments
The fieldwork was conducted thanks to Kings Bay A.S., AWIPEV, NPI and Fanny Narcy. This work was part of the PRACEAL project funded by the French Polar Institute Paul Emile Victor (IPEV). The authors thank Nathalie Leblond for her help with the CHN measurements. We also wish to thank Janine Cuzin-Roudy for their relevant comments on the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Noyon, M., Gasparini, S. & Mayzaud, P. Feeding of Themisto libellula (Amphipoda Crustacea) on natural copepods assemblages in an Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard). Polar Biol 32, 1559–1570 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-009-0655-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-009-0655-9