We conducted a series of food choice experiments using detritus from cultured eelgrass (Zostera marina) genotypes (clones) as a food source and either one or a combination of the following invertebrate grazers: the tube dwelling amphipod Ampithoe lacertosa, the free swimming isopod Idotea resecata, and/or the tube building polychaete Platynereis bicanaliculata.

All feeding trials were conducted by placing pre-weighed fragments of each choice (approximately 4 cm in length) in 140 mL cups (7 cm tall, 6 cm diameter) covered with a 250 um mesh cloth and submerged in a flowing seawater bath in an indoor tank. Food choices were marked using colored zip ties, and trials were terminated before any food item was reduced in size by one half. Consumption was calculated as ([Hi X Cf/Ci] - Hf ), where Hi and Hf were initial and final wet masses of tissue exposed to consumers, and Ci and Cf were initial and final masses in controls.

In addition to feeding trials, we grew invertebrates for one month (in similar containers and feeding trial conditions) with food sources that varied in number of seagrass clones present. Animal survival was assessed weekly, and food was replaced.

The chemical traits for individual eelgrass clones were also assessed. We measured the pressure required to penetrate and tear each genotype. We clamped in place below a needle (17G / 19mm length), which was held in place with a metal sleeve and which supported a cup to which dry sand was added a few milligrams at a time until the pin pierced completely through the plant tissue. The mass of the dry sand and the apparatus were then weighed to determine the mass needed to pierce the leaf (Duffy & Hay 1991). Tensile strength was measured using a tensiometer. Leaf segments were clamped to a hanging balance equipped with a maximum mass indicator and pulled by hand until the leaf failed. Phenolic content was determined on an approximately 4 mg subsample using a modified Folin-Ciocalteu method (see Bolser et al. 1998). An approximately 3 mg subsample was analyzed for carbon and nitrogen concentration on a Thermo Flash EA 1112 Soil elemental analyzer.

feeding_trials.csv