A new study from the University of California, Santa Barbara, reveals how the hyperiid amphipod is able to feed itself and the ocean. The study, published in the journal Current Biology, shows that the amphipod has a unique feeding mechanism that allows it to capture and consume prey much larger than itself.
"Hyperiid amphipods are these little shrimp-like animals that are found all over the oceans," said lead author Matthew Bracken, a postdoctoral researcher at UCSB. "They're really important predators, but we don't know a lot about how they feed."
The amphipod's feeding mechanism involves a pair of specialized appendages called gnathopods. The gnathopods are equipped with sharp claws that the amphipod uses to grab and hold its prey. The amphipod then uses its mandibles to crush the prey's exoskeleton and consume the soft tissue inside.
The study also found that hyperiid amphipods are not only predators, but also cannibals. "They were often eating each other," Bracken said. "This was something we didn't expect."
The findings of the study have implications for understanding the role of hyperiid amphipods in the marine food chain and for developing new strategies to control their populations.
"Hyperiid amphipods are a really important part of the ocean ecosystem," Bracken said. "They're a food source for other animals, and they also help to control the population of zooplankton. By understanding how they feed, we can better understand how they impact the ocean."
