Food consumption rate in marine planktonic copepods (review)

Analysis is made of in situ ingestion rates of marine planktonic Copepoda from different regions of the World Ocean. The allometric equations are developed on the base of daily rations of 32 Copepoda species (copepodits and adults) within 3 temperature ranges: -1... +7, 8—15, 15—22°C. In nature the ration of Copepods increases in proportion to the phytoplankton concentration and does not reveal the saturation. The feeding rates in situ and in the laboratory experiments in temperature ranges 8—15°C and 15—22°C appear to be described by the same equation under similar conditions. The results are discussed both in relation to the phytoplankton concentration and to the size phytoplankton community structure