Size selection of common mussels, Mytilus edulis , by common eiders, Somateria mollissima : energy maximization or shell weight minimization?
Prey size selection by common eiders, Somateria mollissima, preying on common mussels, Mytilus edulis, in northern Norway is described. The mean length (± 1 SD) of mussels preyed upon was 13.9 ± 5.7 mm (range 3.5–38.1 mm). The dry flesh weight as a percentage of the total dry weight ranged from 4.2...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1990
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z90-318 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z90-318 |
| Summary: | Prey size selection by common eiders, Somateria mollissima, preying on common mussels, Mytilus edulis, in northern Norway is described. The mean length (± 1 SD) of mussels preyed upon was 13.9 ± 5.7 mm (range 3.5–38.1 mm). The dry flesh weight as a percentage of the total dry weight ranged from 4.2 to 8.6% in different body-length categories and was greatest in the mussels most frequently fed upon. There was a close negative correlation between the size of mussels fed upon and the estimated total shell weight that birds had to ingest to obtain their daily requirement of food (r s = −0.86). A hypothesis is proposed that common eiders select mussels of certain size classes to minimize the daily shell weight intake. |
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