Food quality of detritus derived from the filamentous cyanobacterium Oscillatoria limnetica for Daphnia galeata

Abstract

Detritus derived from the filamentous cyanobacterium Oscillatoria limnetica was fed to Daphnia galeata. Detritus supported growth and reproduction comparable to that on the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus. The live filaments of O.limnetica were, however, of lower food quality. Biochemical parameters of these food types, thought to be important in Daphnia nutrition, were also determined. It is concluded that detritus can be a good quality food for Daphnia, making eutrophic lakes better food environments than generally assumed. [KEYWORDS: Fresh-water; humic lake; zooplankton; cladocerans; phosphorus; bacteria; copepods; algal; discrimination; decomposition]