TABLE VI. Habitat selection, growth and sexual maturity. The Japanese marine gastropod Haliotis discus hlannai will eat a
number of species of brown, green and red algae, but shows distinct preferences if offered a choice. Sakai (1962) offered
Haliotis choices of three different seaweeds in preference experiments. He also maintained Haliotis on one or other of three
seaweed species for one month, and noted feeding rates, efficiency of food conversion
yo increase in body weight, and the development of sexual maturity.
x loo),
:
food ingested (g)
increase in body wt (g)
5
u
F
M
rp
The results of the month’s experiment conformed
exactly with the species’ food preferences. (Modified from Sakai, 1962, Tables 2, 3 and 7.)
n
3
&
W
ic
L -
R)
Food consumption, growth and development of sexual muturity at the
end of one month feeding on the three algal species
r
A
\
Seaweed eaten in 1 month
Sexual maturity
h
A
Preferences for ,
\
I
- I
9
2
Undaria
4
PinnatiJida (a brown alga)
66
6-17
5.07
32.1
90
10
z
! i
5
pertusa (a green alga)
25
3.76
2-29
E.5
55
44
Carpopeltis
E
afinis (a red alga)
9
2.15
1.50
3.6
44
55
the three species
Eficiency of
yo increase Fairly mature
Indistinct
Species of seaweed
of seaweed (%) glday food conversion (yo) in weight
to mature
to immature
0
t4
Ulva
W
W
W