[Diet of the ascidian Ecteinascidia turbinata (Ascidiacea: Perophoridae) in two mangrove areas of Cuba]. / Alimentación de la ascidia Ecteinascidia turbinata (Ascidiacea: Perophoridae) en dos áreas de manglar de Cuba.

Diet of the ascidian Ecteinascidia turbinata (Ascidiacea: Perophoridae) in two mangrove areas of Cuba. Stomach contents of 88 zooids ofEcteinascidia turbinata Herdman 1880 and the qualitative and quantitative composition of phytoplankton in the water column were studied in Santa Fe (North Coast of Havana) and Punta del Este (SW of Cuba). We identified 59 microalgal species and four tintinnids in the stomachs. Cell size was 75-165 microm in length and 2-105 microm in width. There were not significant differences in microalgal diversity in the water column in the two locations. In both locations, the diatoms had the largest number of species and individuals in stomachs and water. In Santa Fe, dinoflagellate biomass was larger in water and stomach contents, while in Punta del Este the contribution of each group to the stomach content was similar to that of the water column. This species filters in a constant and irregular way during the day, independently of food availability.