Abstract.The ingestion of carnivores and omnivores was determined during the investigation of higher trophic levels in a North Adriatic benthic community. The ingestion rate was calculated from respiration data using a respiration‐production equation and an assumed assimilation efficiency. In the case of the starfishAstropecten aranciacusthe ingestion rate obtained by this indirect method was in good agreement with the ingestion rate calculated directly from gut contents, taking the retaining period of food items in the gut into consideration. These results are compared to previously published ingestion rates. The influence of Aaranciacuson the community is briefly discusse