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Reproductive strategies of Gammarus lacustris (Crustacea: Amphipoda) along an elevation gradient
Author(s) -
F. M. Wilhelm,
D. W. Schindler
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2000.00426.x
Subject(s) - biology , ecology , incubation , gammarus , amphipoda , montane ecology , overwintering , crustacean , altitude (triangle) , phenotypic plasticity , reproduction , egg incubation , range (aeronautics) , zoology , hatching , biochemistry , materials science , geometry , mathematics , composite material
1. The number of eggs, their size, mass and development time, and the starvation time of newly hatched young, was examined in four populations of Gammarus lacustris along an elevation gradient from prairie to alpine lakes (730 m to > 2300 m above sea level). Water temperature and ice‐free season decreased with increasing altitude. 2. Females in the alpine lake produced fewer but larger and heavier eggs than females in the prairie lake. Eggs produced by females in montane and subalpine lakes were intermediate in size, mass and number. Within populations, egg size was not related to the number of eggs or female size. 3. The development time of eggs declined with an increase in incubation temperature. At all incubation temperatures, large eggs had a longer incubation time than small eggs. All eggs incubated at 4 °C failed to produce young. Young from large eggs were larger in size than young from small eggs. 4. The starvation time of newly hatched young increased with decreasing temperature. However, slopes of regressions relating starvation time to temperature differed among populations. At 4 °C young from large eggs survived longer than young from small eggs. 5. The high phenotypic plasticity in reproductive traits contributes to the success of G. lacustris in a wide range of aquatic habitats. It is predicted that in response to climate‐induced warming, populations in currently cold montane and alpine lakes would shift their reproduction to produce more eggs of smaller size. However, the accurate prediction of the fate of populations between ecoregions will require knowledge of the extent to which these traits are under genetic control.