Prey preference and utilization by Mesostoma lingua (Turbellaria, Rhabdocoela) at a low arctic site

Abstract

The rhabdocoel Mesostoma lingua is a common inhabitant of rock bluff ponds in the area of Churchill, Manitoba. Unlike most flatworms it has the ability to prey actively on zooplankton. Among the zooplankton, Mesostoma prefers Daphnia pulex, Simocephalus vetulus, and Diaptomus tyrrelli. Larger calanoid copepods are difficult to capture and take much longer to consume. Growth in Mesostoma is maintained when individuals consume 0.5 Daphnia day−1 and is maximal at 4 Daphnia day−1. In comparison, Mesostoma maintained growth only when offered the copepod Diaptomus victoriaensis at the rate of 8–10 individuals-day−1. Mesostoma may be an important agent in structuring pond zooplankton communities in the arctic, producing a shift in dominance away from cladocerans such as Daphnia toward larger calanoid copepods.