Feeding of Acetes paraguayensis (Nobili) (Decapoda: Sergestidae) from the Parana River, Argentina.

Feeding habits of Acetes paraguayensis (Hansen) were studied by examining the stomach content of specimens from two lakes. A. paraguayensis is omnivorous, feeding mainly on members of littoral-benthic and lotic communities. Algae, rotifers and microcrustaceans (copepods and cladocerans) are the more frequent items in the bulk of the stomach content. Oligochaeta and Diptera larvae were an alternative food source when available. Shrimp feeding habits difference between the two lakes may be due to the resource availability. A. paraguayensis are trophic linkers between limnetic and lotic habitats with an important role in the transportation of energy from the floodplain to the principal channel in the Paraná Rivers System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]