Locomotory Patterns of Microzooplankton: Effects of Prey Behavior on Food Selectivity by Larval Fish

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Microzooplankton are a morphologically and ecologically diverse group of organisms that exhibit a wide range of swimming behaviors. These behaviors may have evolved primarily to allow the organism to feed efficiently or to allow non-feeding forms to stay in the water column, but they also affect the ability of fish larvae to recognize potential prey, especially in estuaries where non-food, suspended particles are abundant. In contrast to visual predation on microzooplankton, little research has been done to test for selectivity of microzooplankton prey species by visual predators, and no definitive research has been done to understand how such selection is controlled. This project will investigate the role of microzooplankton prey behavior in feeding selectivity by a visual predator (the early, post yolk-sac stage of the red drum larva, Sciaenops ocellatus). To evaluate the role of prey behavior in food selectivity by red drum larvae, a CellTrak video-computer system for motion analysis will be used to quantify prey behaviors in three dimensions during the encounter, attack and capture stages of predation. Based on the research results, predictions will be made and tested regarding microzooplankton prey selectivity by visually feeding larval fish.