Body size and food thresholds for zero growth in Dreissena polymorpha: a mechanism underlying intraspecific competition

摘要: 1. Dreissena polymorpha is an extraordinarily successful invasive species that shows high recruitment of small juvenile mussels on established mussel banks. Such settlement on, and overgrowth of, large adult mussels; however, leads to competition with adults, often at densities low-food concentrations. 2. The concept food thresholds for zero growth has been a powerful approach explaining size-related exploitative in different zooplankton species. We applied it investigate whether threshold concentrations (C 0 ) differ between zebra mussels. 3. By determining body mass various diet mixture (Nannochloropsis limnetica Isochrysis aff. galbana) we demonstrate the concentration = 0.08 mg C L -1 substantially lower than adults 0.36 ). 4. This indicates that, low availability, are competitively superior their larger conspecifics. Within banks plankton depleted so observed mechanism might ensure success therefore regeneration nature.