Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM)

The grazing rates of invertebrate species on epiphyton and feeding rates on dead leaf alternative food source varied from species to species.

Lymnaea columella demonstrated the highest grazing efficiency on epiphyton biomass; while Gammarus pulex had the least grazing effect on epiphyton.

Asellus aquaticus exhibited the highest feeding impact on dead leaf; while the feeding efficiences of Lymnaea columella and Gammarus pulex on dead leaf were even.

Invertebrate species consumed more of the algae food than the dead leaf alternative food source.

Differences in grazing and feeding rates on epiphyton and dead leaf food sources among invertebrate species can be attributed to the influence of some underlying natural factors such as species body size, food selection, feeding mechanisms etc.