Resource limitation and food quality for zooplankton in freshwater lakes

• Grant number: 01/04444-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: July 21, 2001
• End date: December 20, 2001
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Aloysio da Silva Ferrão Filho
• Grantee: Aloysio da Silva Ferrão Filho
• Host Investigator: William Roland DeMott
• Host Institution: Pessoa Física
• Institution abroad: Michigan State University (MSU), United States

Abstract

The objectives of this research are: 1) to study the mechanisms of food limitation in cladocerans from temperate and tropical lakes and 2) to measure food quantity and to test alternative hypotheses of food quality simultaneously. In the first part, growth biossays and assimilation experiments with isotopes (C and P) will be conducted during summer at KBS with Dr. Alan Tessier. The second part of the study will examine the performances of common zooplankton species along gradients of food quality using laboratory foods. These experiments, to be conducted in Dr. DeMott's laboratory in Fort Wayne, will test for tradeoffs in exploitation ability and will provide insights into the underlying physiological mechanisms. (AU)