Calanus the cannibal

Recent modelling efforts have suggested that cannibalism on eggs and young nauplii is an important factor controlling the population dynamics of Calanus. We measured cannibalistic feeding rates on eggs and nauplii of Calanus helgolandicus in the laboratory. Clearance rates on nauplii were similar to102 mL ind.(-1) day(-1), while generally higher on eggs (320 mL ind.(-1) day(-1)). Female starvation did not affect ingestion rates of eggs. We discuss our results in light of published model predictions, cannibalistic feeding rates of other copepods, and field distributions of Calanus developmental stages.