MEPS 331:305-307(2007) - doi: 10.3354/meps331305
Reassessment of the gut pigment method for estimating in situ zooplankton ingestion
Edward G. Durbin*, Robert G. Campbell
*Email: edurbin@gso.uri.edu
ABSTRACT: Correction for chlorophyll pigment destruction has been frequently used in calculation of copepod ingestion rates using the gut pigment method. We argue that tracers in the gut may be either digested and assimilated, or evacuated, and that both processes are taken into account when an evacuation (disappearance) rate curve is determined. As a result, any correction for gut pigment destruction in calculating ingestion rate is inappropriate.
KEY WORDS: Ingestion · Gut pigments · Zooplankton
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