STOMACH CONTENTS AND MICROFEEDING OF SOME COMMON CIRRIPEDES

Abstract

An account is given of the stomach contents of some common barnacles; these include both intertidal and sublittoral species. The contents reflect to some extent the environment, species taken from the same place at the same time having similar contents. With some species, a particle size analysis was possible on a pooled sample of stomach contents. It is evident that much debris is present, and that particulate matter with a diameter less than 2 μ can be taken. Detritus may be an important source of nutriment with sublittoral species. Small particles cannot be taken by the captorial activity of the cirri. It is considered that glandular secretions at the base of the cirri, where there are numerous setae, enmesh the food, which is then carried forward to the mouth parts to be rejected or accepted.