Investigating the feeding behaviour of brine shrimps
M. Dockery-2000
Journal of Biological Education, 34 (4) : 211-213
(from Current Contents)
Abstract :
Brine shrimps, Artemia franciscana, appeal to
students of all ages and can be easily maintained and reared in a classroom
or laboratory. In nature they live in salt lakes feeding on algae, either by
filter feeding as they swim or by grazing on the bottom mud. The salt lake
environment can be mimicked in a laboratory, and students can learn much
from observing shrimps grazing. But what happens to their feeding behaviour
if the substrate is above the bottom of the tank? Apparatus is described
that enables students to observe shrimps feeding at different levels and to
study some influences on their behaviour.
(Manchester Metropolitan
Univ, Manchester M1 5GD, Lancs, England, UK, e-mail: m.dockery@mmu.ac.uk)