New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Ingestion and assimilation efficiency of Aeshna brevistyla and Hemicordulia australiae larvae (Odonata)

R. A. Prestidge*

School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand

Abstract In a laboratory study of the ingestion and assimilation efficiency of larvae of Aeshna brevistyla Rambur and Hemicordulia australiae Rambur, ingestion was determined using Cerenkov radiation techniques and assimilation efficiency by a double-labelled isotope technique. Of each prey item (Daphnia carinata), 30% was not ingested but lost as body fluids and as material within the alimentary canal of the prey. Assimilation efficiency was greater than 70% for both dragonfly species, which appears to be typical for most other invertebrate predators. The efficiency with which 12th-15th-instar Aeshna assimilated ¹⁴C did not increase with feeding rate, but Hemicordulia increased its efficiency through instars 12-14. When dragonfly larvae were pre-fed before experimentation, assimilation efficiency decreased in both species.

New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 1979, 13(1): 193-199.
Received 14 June 1977; revision received 30 January 1979

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (591K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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