Feeding efficiency of Penaeus indicus and Metapenaeus dobsoni in different experimental substrata

Abstract

Preying efficiency in the substrata of different concentrations of mud sand, silt and clay and also in mud from natural habitat was examined with respect to Penaeus indicus and Metapenaeus dobsoni in order to understand the factors in their natural substrata which affect the preying efficiency and the differences in the degree of adaptation of the two species. The study indicates that silt and clay adversely affect the preying efficiency of both the species, especially in higher concentrations. The data also suggest that P. indicus gets more easily adapted to a muddy substratum than M. dobsoni