Growth, Consumption and Respiration by Larvae of the Kelp-FlyFucelliaCapensis (Diptera:Anthomyiidae)
Open Access
- 1 January 1980
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in South African Journal of Zoology
- Vol. 15 (4) , 280-283
- https://doi.org/10.1080/02541858.1980.11447723
Abstract
At 18 °C the eggs of the kelp-fly, Fucellia capensis, hatch in 24 – 32 h and the larval and pupal stages last 10 – 12 and 9 – 14 days respectively. The growth curve is discontinuous, with declining relative growth rates in successive larval instars. Food consumption is relatively independent of size, at 0,25 mg dry kelp mg-1 wet larva day-1. Respiration rate is related to larval mass by the equation: Respiration rate (μl O2 h-1) = 2,75 (wet mass larva)0,66. In terms of energy an individual larva consumes 245,5 J over its lifespan, grows to the equivalent of 43,9 J and respires 51,6 J, indicating an assimilation efficiency of 30% and a gross growth efficiency of 17%. Kelp-fly larvae are probably less significant consumers of drift kelp than amphipods or isopods, but they promote the decay of wrack beds and are favoured as food by sea-shore birds.Keywords
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