Trophic Activity and Nutrition

Abstract

One of the most significant factors determining the survival and reproductive capacity of a species is the availability of food organisms within its geographical range. Species capable of subsisting on a broad range of prey and efficiently assimilating prey biomass are more likely to survive in changing environments and more readily invade and adapt to new environments than less diversified species. A determination, therefore, of the trophic activity of planktonic foraminifera including diversity and quantity of prey consumed is significant toward understanding their biological niche in respect to their geographic distribution, fecundity, and adaptability. Knowledge of the trophic activity of modern species will hopefully help us elucidate the factors regulating the abundance and distribution of ancient species as reflected in the fossil record.