Food niches of planktonic rotifers: Diversification and implications

The diverse diets of common planktonic rotifers are described in detail from field and laboratory observations experiments. Also considered methodological approaches, rotifer feeding mechanisms, the availability natural waters less well-known food items (detritus, picoplankton, protozoans). Despite much variation among within genera, niches can be subdivided into four broad, overlapping categories defined by predominant types sizes ingested: (1) microphagous that eat fine detritus/organic aggregates, 2–10 ?m nanoplankton; (2) polyphagous above items, larger nanoplankton, small (20–50 ?m) microplankton; (3) macrophagous algivores 5–50 algae; (4) omnivores/predators 5–250 algae, protozoans, metazoans. These diet-based have ecological advantages over based on morphology or mode. information assembled here is important for understanding: population dynamics their organisms; position classical microbial webs; seasonality, spatial distribution, species diversity plankton communities; overlap, thus potential resource competition, rotifers, crustaceans.