Daphnid Filtering Comb Area and the Control of Filtering Rate

Abstract

ABSTRACT Filtering comb areas were greatest for Daphnia pulex and D. similis, and least for D. parvula, relative to body length. The slopes of the regressions of comb area body length were different from expected (based on simple geometry) for D. pulex and D. similis. Filtering rates of these daphnids in suspensions of inert sediment particles were less related to comb areas than they were to the gut filling capacity of these particles.