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Macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups in the middle and lower reaches of the Buffalo River, eastern Cape, South Africa. II. Functional morphology and behaviour

Macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups in the middle and lower reaches of the Buffalo River,... SUMMARY 1 While it was impossible to assign twelve taxa from the middle and lower reaches of the Buffalo River, eastern Cape, South Africa to functional feeding groups (FFGs) on the basis of their foregut contents alone, we were able to assign these taxa to FFGs, with varying degrees of certainty, on the basis of their mouthpart morphology and feeding behaviour. 2 The two Hydropsychidae were identified as passive filterers on the basis of their feeding behaviour. The ultrastructure of the labia and maxillae of the ten Ephemeroptera, and observation of the feeding behaviour of five of these, were used to assign them to FFGs. 3 Only mayfly species whose morphology and behaviour were recorded could be positively assigned to the FFGs active or passive filterer, gatherer, brusher, and scraper. The FFG designation described the predominant feeding behaviour, and all observed taxa exhibited a range of feeding activities. 4 FFGs are useful descriptive categories which clarify both the nature and distribution of the food eaten, and the role of the organism in the ecosystem. FFGs affect a variety of stream processes, and the role of the FFG concept in understanding stream functions is discussed. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Freshwater Biology Wiley

Macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups in the middle and lower reaches of the Buffalo River, eastern Cape, South Africa. II. Functional morphology and behaviour

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References (39)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0046-5070
eISSN
1365-2427
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2427.1993.tb00779.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

SUMMARY 1 While it was impossible to assign twelve taxa from the middle and lower reaches of the Buffalo River, eastern Cape, South Africa to functional feeding groups (FFGs) on the basis of their foregut contents alone, we were able to assign these taxa to FFGs, with varying degrees of certainty, on the basis of their mouthpart morphology and feeding behaviour. 2 The two Hydropsychidae were identified as passive filterers on the basis of their feeding behaviour. The ultrastructure of the labia and maxillae of the ten Ephemeroptera, and observation of the feeding behaviour of five of these, were used to assign them to FFGs. 3 Only mayfly species whose morphology and behaviour were recorded could be positively assigned to the FFGs active or passive filterer, gatherer, brusher, and scraper. The FFG designation described the predominant feeding behaviour, and all observed taxa exhibited a range of feeding activities. 4 FFGs are useful descriptive categories which clarify both the nature and distribution of the food eaten, and the role of the organism in the ecosystem. FFGs affect a variety of stream processes, and the role of the FFG concept in understanding stream functions is discussed.

Journal

Freshwater BiologyWiley

Published: Jun 1, 1993

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