Feeding of Zooplankton, with Special Reference to Some Experiments with Sagitta

Abstract

THE chaetognaths have long been known as active carnivores¹, though knowledge of their feeding behaviour is limited to qualitative observations on the nature of their food, and mode of operation of their mouthparts. Nothing is known of their rate of food intake. The main, reason for the lack of information on this and almost every aspect of their physiology is stated² to be their small size and inability to withstand removal from their natural environment for more than a few hours. Such information would be of interest since chaetognaths are very common among the plankton, and are usually the most important plankton carnivore.