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7570989 
Journal Article 
Influence of the ornamental red cherry shrimp Neocaridina davidi (Bouvier, 1904) on freshwater meiofaunal assemblages 
Weber, S; Traunspurger, W 
2016 
1 
Limnologica
ISSN: 0075-9511
EISSN: 1873-5851 
59 
155-161 
English 
Meiofauna serves as a link between microbial production and higher trophic levels, such as macroinvertebrates and juvenile fish. However, the role of meiofauna in the freshwater food web has not been accurately evaluated, and the influence of shrimp predation on freshwater meiofaunal assemblages is unknown. In this study, the predation effects of Neocaridina davidi, an ornamental freshwater shrimp native to inland water bodies in Asia, on meiofaunal density, biomass, structure, and secondary production were examined using model ecosystems (microcosms) that were sampled repeatedly over 42 days. Shrimp predation altered the structure of the meiofaunal community over the course of the experiment, in particular the density, biomass, and secondary production of nematodes, microcrustaceans, and oligochaetes. An analysis of the stomach contents of N. davidi indicated a high degree of omnivory and the frequent consumption of meiofaunal organisms. The results indicated that predation by the freshwater shrimp N. davidi depresses the overall abundance, biomass, and secondary production of meiofaunal assemblages. Moreover, they also provide insights into food-web ecology and the first evidence of freshwater shrimp predation on meiofaunal assemblages. 
Aqualine Abstracts; Water Resources Abstracts; Ecology Abstracts; Aquaculture; Food web; Meiobenthos; Predator-prey interactions; Secondary production; Trophic levels; Ecosystems; Food webs; Biomass; Density; Oligochaeta; Food Chains; Microorganisms; Freshwater environments; Decapoda; Microcosms; Nematoda; Meiofauna; Stomach; Neocaridina; Trophic Level; Abundance; Ecology; Inland waters; Nematodes; Predation; SW 0810:General; D 04040:Ecosystem and Ecology Studies; AQ 00001:Water Resources and Supplies