The Role of Fish Predators in Structuring the Crustacean Community Associated with the Giant Kelp, Macrocystis Pyrifera
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Authors
Roda, Amy L.
Issue Date
1988
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The presence and absence of a predator, juvenile kelp
bass (Paralabrax clathratus), was experimentally manipulated
to test predator effects on structuring the crustacean
assemblage associated with giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera.
Cages containing and excluding this predator were
interspersed throughout the upper portions (approx. 1m below
the surface) of the kelp beds located at Santa Catalina
Island,
bass gut
California. A comparison of caged and uncaged kelp
contents showed that the fish ingested primarily
gammarid amphipods and harpacticoid copepods. The relative
abundance of both these species was not significantly
influenced by the presence of the kelp bass. Both uncaged and
caged kelp bass affected the availability of gammarids by
selectively preying upon the largest sizes. This selectivity
did not, however, occur with harpacticoids. The cage (the
means of exclusion) is suspected of having a strong effect on
structuring the crustacean community as a result of excluding
other predators.
Description
vi, 33 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.