Abstract
This study was focused on the predation upon microcrustaceans by an invertebrate predator (chaoborid larvae), and vertebrate predators (fish), in two small reservoirs in southeastern Brazil, with and without macrophytes, in two climatic periods (dry and rainy seasons). Chaoborus larvae were sampled in the limnetic zone, as they are scarce in the littoral, and fish in both limnetic and littoral zones. Their diets were evaluated by the analysis of the crop (chaoborid) or stomach contents (fish). Chaoborid larvae consumed the dinoflagellate Peridinium sp. or other algae, rotifers, and planktonic microcrustaceans. The fish species that included microcrustaceans in their diets were juveniles caught in the littoral. Aquatic insects, plant fragments, and detritus were their major dietary items, microcrustaceans representing a minor item. Planktonic copepods contributed more to the diet of chaoborid larvae than planktonic cladocerans. Fish preyed on planktonic microcrustaceans, as well as on benthic and macrophyte-associated species. Microcrustaceans were not heavily preyed on by chaoborid larvae and fish in both reservoirs.
Highlights
The predation by invertebrate predators, primarily by Chaoborus larvae (Chaoboridae, Diptera) is high in tropical lentic ecosystems (Saunders and Lewis, 1988; Arcifa, 2000; Bezerra-Neto and Pinto-Coelho, 2002a; Pagano et al, 2003; López and Roa, 2005; Castilho-Noll and Arcifa, 2007a, b)
Abundance and diet of Chaoboridae larvae In both reservoirs, densities of Chaoborus larvae were larger in the rainy season than in the dry season (Fig. 1)
Camara et al.: Predation on microcrustaceans prasinus meridionalis Kiefer and Thermocyclops decipiens Kiefer contributed more to the diet than cladocerans, which were represented by Daphnia laevis Birge
Summary
The predation by invertebrate predators, primarily by Chaoborus larvae (Chaoboridae, Diptera) is high in tropical lentic ecosystems (Saunders and Lewis, 1988; Arcifa, 2000; Bezerra-Neto and Pinto-Coelho, 2002a; Pagano et al, 2003; López and Roa, 2005; Castilho-Noll and Arcifa, 2007a, b). Zooplankton can be preyed on by fish, only a few species are truly planktivores in Brazilian water bodies, where other feeding guilds predominate (AraújoLima et al, 1995; Arcifa and Northcote, 1997). Life stages of fish are the main vertebrate predators, some small-sized species may include zooplankton in their diets (MaiaBarbosa and Matsumura-Tundisi, 1984; Arcifa et al, 1991; Ambrósio et al, 2001; Roche et al, 2005; Elmoor-Loureiro and Soares, 2010). Predation pressure by fish seems to be lower in the limnetic zone than in the littoral, especially in areas with macrophytes, where juveniles and adults of small species are more abundant (Meschiatti et al, 2000; Oliveira et al, 2001; SánchezBotero and Araújo-Lima, 2001; Meschiatti and Arcifa, 2002; Agostinho et al, 2003; Milani et al, 2010)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
