Attraction of the amphipod Gammarus pulex to water-borne cues of food

We examined the ability of the amphipod Gammarus pulexto detect chemical cues released from potential food sources. Therefore, response of G. pulex to chemical cues from food was tested in paired-choice laboratory experiments. Comparisons were made between artificial and natural leaves, with and without the importance of aufwuchs, and with different components of the aufwuchs community. Our study demonstrated that G. pulex actively chose its food and that G. pulex is most strongly attracted to the aufwuchs on discs rather than to the leaf itself. Fungi and bacteria are more important in the food selection process than algae probably because fungal and bacterial cues are more specific cues for decaying leaves than algal cues, since algae also grow on mineral substrates and then do not contribute to leaf decomposition.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]