Author/Authors :
Madin، نويسنده , , Laurence P. and Bollens، نويسنده , , Stephen M. and Horgan، نويسنده , , Erich and Butler، نويسنده , , Mari and Runge، نويسنده , , Jeffrey H. Sullivan، نويسنده , , Barbara K. and Klein-Macphee، نويسنده , , Grace and Durbin، نويسنده , , Edward G. Durbin، نويسنده , , Ann G. and Van Keuren، نويسنده , , Donna and Plourde، نويسنده , , Stéphane and Bucklin، نويسنده , , Ann and Eliza، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
Hydroids are typically attached, benthic cnidarians that feed on a variety of small prey. During sampling on Georges Bank in spring 1994, we found huge numbers of hydroids suspended in the plankton. They fed on young stages of copepods that are an important prey for fish, as well as on young fish themselves. Two independent methods were used to estimate feeding rates of the hydroids; both indicate that the hydroids are capable of consuming from 50% to over 100% of the daily production of young copepods. These results suggest that hydroids can have a profound effect on the population dynamics of zooplankton and young fish on Georges Bank.
