Evaluation of three methods for biomass estimation in small invertebrates, using three large disparate parasite species as model organisms.

ABSTRACT: Invertebrate biomass is considered one of the main factors driving processes in ecosystems. It can be measured directly, primarily by weighing individuals, but more often indirect estimators are used. We developed two indirect and non-destructive approaches to estimate biomass of small invertebrates in a simple manner. The first one was based on clay modelling and the second one was based on image analysis implemented with open-source software. Furthermore, we tested the accuracy of the widely used geometric approximation method (third method). We applied these three different methods to three morphologically disparate model species, an acanthocephalan worm, a crustacean and a flatworm. To validate our indirect estimations and to test their accuracy, we weighed specimens of the three speci

SUBMITTER: Llopis-Belenguer C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5832816 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature