Cladoceran filtering rate: body length relationships for bacterial and large algal particles

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Abstract
In situ filtering rates were determined for six cladocerans and one calanoid fed either 1‐µm bacteria or 20‐µm algae. Food‐specific regressions of filtering rate vs. body length for all cladocerans together produced explained variances of 87 and 95% while a combined regression for both food particles plus 6‐µm yeast produced an explained variance of 87%. All animals could filter particles of all sizes but were most efficient at filtering the medium‐sized food. Large animals maintained a higher filtering efficiency on large algal particles than on small bacteria, while small animals did the opposite, providing some basis for niche differentiation. The regression equations permit the indirect estimation of grazing impact on bacterioplankton and phytoplankton populations and should facilitate studies of energy flow and plankton population dynamics in lakes.

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