Volumen 43 - Número 2: 419-423 | 2008
Nota Científica

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Efecto de la hipoxia en la conducta de forrajeo de Cancer setosus (Molina, 1782) (Crustacea: Decapoda) alimentado con Mytilus chilensis (Hupé, 1854) 

José A. Cisterna¹, Gonzalo S. Saldías^2* y Cristian W. Cáceres¹

¹Departamento de Ecología Costera, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Casilla 297, Concepción, Chile
²Departamento de Oceanografía, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile

*This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The variability in oxygen conditions results in different responses at marine organism’s foraging behavior. In this sense, the aim of the paper was to study the foraging behavior of Cancer setosus (Molina, 1782) quantified through the size of prey selection and consumption rate under hypoxia and normal level of dissolved oxygen conditions. Significant differences in prey size selection and also in the consumption rate were found. These results suggest that in hypoxic conditions C. setosus prefers size preys involving less energy expenditure. In contrast, under normal oxygen conditions the major energetic budget is probably destined to growth.

Key words: Feeding, crab, oxygen level, central Chile